Editorial – Gambling harms can be reduced: public health meets politics

There are, at present, about 116,000 people in Australia with a serious gambling problem, and another 279,000 with a moderate one. These people directly affect their children, parents, spouses, cousins, neighbours, employers, friends, lovers, colleagues and customers. More than three quarters of problem gamblers principally use poker machines. There are 185,500 high intensity poker machines scattered throughout Australia's suburban pubs and clubs (and another 12,300 in Australian casinos). Gambling problems are significantly associated with physical and mental illness; financial ruin, the loss of family and corporate assets, and bankruptcy; relationship difficulties, family breakdown and divorce; crime, including fraud, theft, violence and deception; and suicide, self-harm and the neglect and abuse of children. Poker machines are disproportionately concentrated in already disadvantaged areas.