I know that Aussies love to have a punt on the ponies but it’s becoming a massive community problem. For example, in the state where I currently live, the Anglican Church of Tasmania has published an excellent report which makes for incredibly sobering reading. Here’s a quick snapshot of what their research has found:

Just under half (47 per cent) of Tasmanian adults gamble.

In 2020-21, Tasmanian gamblers lost $398 million. That’s a loss of over $1 million a day and an average annual loss of $1,676 per gambler.

In 2021-22, assistance was provided by Anglicare support services to 347 Tasmanians harmed by gambling.

Tasmanians from socioeconomically disadvantaged LGAs were 70 per cent more likely to seek help for a gambling problem.

Over 57,000 Tasmanians are harmed by someone else’s gambling

The report goes on to then detail the numerous lifetime, generational, and intergenerational impact of gambling. This includes problems that negatively impact an individual’s – and those whom they love – health, relationships, and resources. The tragic reality is, that the problems associated with gambling are legion.

While the above data makes for depressing reading, the Anglican Church of Tasmania has come up with a wise way forward. Rather than banning gambling altogether, they are urging politicians to implement a universal card system for poker machines, as recommended by the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission.

This system is based on the following harm-reduction strategy:

• People need a card in order to gamble on any poker machine in Tasmania
• Binding pre-commitment and default loss limits
• A single card is issued per person
• The system operates across all venues with poker machines

The benefits of adopting such a fair-minded approach are obvious:

• Prevent poker machine losses that people cannot afford
• Target harmful gambling with minimal impact on recreational gambling
• Be more effective in preventing harm, including gambling-related suicide
• Make self-exclusion easier, confidential and more effective
• Give consumers a range of tools and greater control

The Anglican Church of Tasmania is to be commended for their care for people in the community in general, but especially those impacted by the problem of problem gambling in particular. And as such, this is an initiative that everyone should wholeheartedly get behind.

Gambling is a scourge on the well-being and health of our community. And while many – such as myself – would like to see an end to the practice altogether, this is a reasonable and compassionate response to an ever-growing problem.