preview

The Impact Of Gambling On The Australian Community

Better Essays

1. Introduction
The gambling industry is big business in Australia, with Australians losing $15 billion on gambling last year (Tasmanian Gaming Commission, 2003). The industry has grown substantially in the last twenty years following the widespread introduction and legalisation of casinos and gaming machines. The proportion of household disposable income directed towards gambling has escalated, as has the amount of taxation revenue provided to governments from gambling. A number of parallels have been drawn between gambling and alcohol as both are legal for adults, heavily marketed, strongly regulated, provide substantial tax revenue, can be viewed as entertainment, and are deemed a matter of personal responsibility.
This paper explores the concerns surrounding the role of gambling in the Australian community. It examines the extent to which gambling is an established part of industry at both the state and federal level and the manner in which gambling is regulated by various Australian governments. It provides analysis of both the positive and negative economic and social impacts of gambling in Australia.

2. What is Gambling?
Gambling, defined by Talina Drabsch (2003), is the act of staking money on uncertain events driven by chance. It can be subdivided into two groups: wagering (racing and sports) and gaming (casinos, gaming machines, keno and lotteries). It has been a feature of the Australian lifestyle for over 100 years with the first official horse meeting being run

Get Access