Gambling in Tasmania has continued to decline according to the latest Social and Economic Impact Study (SEIS) which has been released today.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has put important measures in place to reduce problem gambling in our State and we welcome today’s Report which confirms that those measures are working as intended.
The 5th SEIS on Gambling in Tasmania found that the prevalence of gambling in our State has continued to decline from 71.7 per cent in 2008, down to 58.5 per cent in 2017 and was sitting at 47 per cent in 2020.
The report shows that the most common gambling activity in Tasmania was lottery tickets with 37 per cent of adult Tasmanians participating, followed by Keno (17 per cent), instant scratchies (11 per cent), and electronic gaming machines (9 per cent).
This Government understands that problem gambling is a serious issue and the 5th SEIS report reveals that in 2020 an estimated 0.4 per cent of adult Tasmanians were classified as problem gamblers based on the Problem Gamblers Severity Index, down from 0.6 per cent in the 4th SEIS.
According to the 5th SEIS, EGM expenditure has also fallen by 15 per cent since the 4th SEIS to $174 million, down from $204 million.
Tasmania has the lowest per capita expenditure on gambling of all the states at $733 per adult compared with the Australian average of $1277.
The work of the independent Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission is acknowledged in developing the State’s leading harm minimisation strategy.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to take measures to minimise harm from gambling and support problem gamblers.
Please see link to the report: https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/gambling/reduce-harm-from-gambling/social-and-economic-impact-studies