VANESSA HALL  
EDITOR  

AUSTRALIANS Love to win, and one title we can safely say is ours is that of highest per capita losses to gambling.

New research from the Australia Institute paints a brutal portrait of the real cost of gambling in Australia, with a staggering $104 billion lost to gambling by Australians between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2026.

In an effort to show how big these losses are, The Australia Institute launched the National Gambling Toll, which is a real-time tracker of Australia’s estimated gambling losses since July 1, 2023, up until the present.

Further figures from The Australia Institute show that Australia’s rates of online gambling are rapidly increasing, with more than one third of Australian adults participating in online gambling in 2024 compared to just eight per cent in 2017.

New polling also shows that four in five (79%) Australians support a total ban on gambling advertisements including on TV, radio and online.

Chief Advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Reverend Tim Costello, said more must be done to stop gambling harm, and a major step would be a full gambling ad ban.

“Behind this eye-watering gambling losses total that has been highlighted by The Australian Institute, lies social harm on an industrial scale including bankruptcies, family break-up, domestic violence and suicide,” Reverend Tim Costello said.

The Advertiser spoke with a Sunshine Coast resident who wished to remain anonymous, who shared some of the harsh realities of gambling addiction.

“Gambling is recognised as an addiction now, and in my days it was race tracks, and these days people walk around with a casino in their pocket.

“I used to bet on which race would come in, but now you can bet on everything – who will make the first try even!”

The resident said that they lost it all whilst gambling.

“For compulsive gamblers, abstinence is the only answer. I lost a marriage; my unit, and I was homeless and living rough when the lightbulb moment hit me, and now I haven’t gambled in 37 years.”

Problem gamblers rely on any way to access money.

“Gamblers are often compulsive liars and are secretive, and they do what they can to access money, and around here we have many people who now have money in their homes and a redraw loan, and I’ve seen partners find out about their husband or wife’s addiction when the house is having to be put up for sale.”

Talking from first-hand experience, the resident said that more money needed to be invested into health and honest advertising.

“If you’re going to do advertising, don’t talk about betting responsibly, talk about what it’s going to do to your family and how it affects a loved one. We need to treat this the same way we treat other addictions. With alcoholics you can see it, but no GP is asking how many bets someone might have had.”

“We need the government to invest in rehabs. Like all addictions, people need that dedicated time away and to be able to break the cycle.”

QLD GOV BACKS ACTION PLAN 
In an attempt to mitigate some of the harm caused by gambling, the Crisafulli Government recently launched their three-year Gambling Harm Action Plan which will be funded by more than $17 million per year.

The action plan will, “strengthen support services and reduce gambling-related harm across Queensland” by way of focusing on prevention and early intervention, increasing community understanding and protecting vulnerable Queenslanders.

As part of the plan, the state government has invested $3.4 million to fund 11 positions for specialist gambling financial counsellors across the state’s Gambling Help service regions.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government was committed to minimising gambling harm, supporting vulnerable Queenslanders and creating a more responsible and sustainable gambling industry.

“Many Queenslanders enjoy betting on their favourite sport , but unfortunately, some people experience or are vulnerable to gambling-related harm, which can have significant impacts on their relationships, health, finances and employment,” the Attorney-General said.

Development of the new plan has occurred in close consultation with industry and community stakeholders to reduce the drivers of gambling harm and deliver measurable impacts.

“The Crisafulli Government’s new Gambling Harm Action Plan 2026-28 will guide Queensland’s investment and approach to preventing and minimising gambling-related harm in our communities,” the Attorney-General said.

“We’re committed to engaging with industry and community stakeholders to reduce the stigma of  ’problem gambling’, encourage people to seek help, improve access to services and provide support to Queenslanders when they need it.”

What do you think about gambling? Is the state doing enough? Why not send in a letter to the editor – editor@coolumadvertiser.com.au

WHERE TO GET HELP  
Gambling Helpline – 1800 858 858
Gamblers Anonymous Sunshine Coast (GA Helpline) – 0467 655 799

View the real-time gambling losses tracker – https://gambling-toll.australiainstitute.org.au