Gambling Harm Minimisation

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:35): The Auditor-General report on gambling harm minimisation was tabled in parliament yesterday, following a performance audit on the government's management of gambling harm minimisation, including its effectiveness on help services and the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund (GRF). I will speak to the fund in a moment but will first draw attention to some of the harrowing statistics.

South Australians have lost $12 billion to gambling in the last decade. Last financial year, South Australians lost a record $1.52 billion. That is $1,052 for every adult. Close to 60 per cent of losses are linked to gaming machines in our hotels and clubs. Any hint of a reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic is well and truly done. Losses are substantially higher than in the pre-pandemic era and are on a dangerous upward trajectory.

Gambling activity generated $531 million in revenue for the state government in the 2021-22 financial year, the very reason successive governments do nothing to stop the insidious cancer of gambling. That is 10 per cent of state taxation revenue. That figure is projected to increase to $582 million this financial year and a whopping $590 million by 2025-26.

So where did all the money go? According to the Auditor-General, whereas $381 million went to the Consolidated Account and $105 million went to the hospitals fund, a mere 1 per cent of revenue, or $5.38 million, was directed into the GRF. Industry kicked in another $2.42 million to the fund, with the remaining $853,000 coming from other sources. Casino giant SkyCity contributed a mere $300,000. Essentially, $8.651 million came into the fund but only $7.726 million went out. A miniscule $6.05 million funded gambling help services.

An estimated 10,000 South Australians participate in high-risk gambling. For every high-risk gambler, at least six other people are estimated to be impacted. That is about $86 per person impacted by gambling at its highest. What an absolutely pathetic gesture. The Auditor-General report identified so many issues I could not possibly get through the list in five minutes, but here is a disturbing snapshot:

Gaming machine and wagering inspections do not effectively target higher risk licensees;

Inspections have not been completed as planned;

No formal training program for gambling compliance inspectors;

The timing of some inspections is predictable and not scheduled to encourage year-round compliance;

Data indicates almost 30% of gaming managers and employees have not completed mandated training requirements;

No testing performed to ensure mandated harm minimisation attributes for gaming machines are operating as intended;

Gaming venue system for detecting indicators of gambling harm not tested to confirm it is operating effectively;

No evaluations performed to assess whether current regulatory approach is effectively minimising gambling harm;

Recommendations from gambling industry inquiries and investigations not systematically assessed and monitored.

To borrow a line from my colleague, it is absolutely a turd sandwich. SA-Best will keep a close watch on the government's response to this damning and scathing report. We know what to do at a minimum, and indeed the Greens know what to do at a minimum: cut the number of poker machine licences; get rid of those awful, woeful note acceptors and introduce cashless gaming cards; limit the operation hours of venues; limit maximum bets; and increase the funding of support services for problem gamblers and their families.