Charlotte Varcoe

GAMBLING in the Limestone Coast continues be an issue with the 2021/2022 end of financial year revenue from poker machines reaching 34m.

The revenue, according to Lifeline Mount Gambier – which provides support for gambling addiction – does not account people’s losses and is the main figure for the entire region.

It comes following South Australian Attorney General Kyam Maher speaking in Parliament in favour of amendments to new poker machine technology.

The amendments include reducing the prevalence and severity of potential harm caused by gambling including a restriction of bank card cash withdrawals to $250 over a 24-hour period, a prohibition on the use of $100 banknotes, restriction on the use of banknotes of any value at the machines if there is already $100 or more on the machine and a requirement for gaming venues to offer the payment of winnings of $500 or more by cheque or bank card.

Lifeline project officer in the gambling help program Louise Murphy said there were other issues at hand for poker machines including a majority taking cards rather than cash, allowing people to bet larger amounts of cash.

“This also means those bets are not as noticed as they used to be,” Ms Murphy said.

“People used to have to go to the bar and get money and have a chat with the worker but now that is removed and the people who work in the venues probably miss having that contact.

“It probably is not as easy to monitor as it used to be, especially monitoring how much someone is spending.”

She said people are able to set limits on the poker machines but it would not stop them from moving to a different machine once hitting that limit.

“Poker machines are designed to bring people in and get them to play more and it entices that dopamine hit,” Ms Murphy said.

“They give that instant high and low which is how people become addicted.”

She said similar issues were found through online sports betting with more restrictions and monitoring needed to help those with a gambling addiction.

“I think with online gambling too there are new applications popping up all the time and that is fine when people ban themselves from them, but then there are new ones which come up soon after,” Ms Murphy said.

Lifeline financial and gambling counsellor Bronwyn Martin said she believed there were many young gamblers who needed help but would not source support.

“I don’t think the young ones put their hands up quite as easily to say they need help and I think there are a lot of younger people who would be good for us to see,” Ms Martin said.

“We do get some young ones but not as many as we would think are out there and I think educating the younger ones in gaming would help.”

Ms Murphy said breaking down shame barriers and having conversations around gambling addictions would also help with Lifeline already working on bringing conversations to the table.

“Gambling is something people can hide for quite a long time, it is not like drinking or using drugs where there are obvious physical alterations,“ she said.

“It is something people can hide for a long time before anyone notices.”

Those needing help with gambling are able to do so by calling Lifeline Mount Gambier on (08) 8723 2299.