A landmark study into gambling has found the more Australians spend on poker machines, the higher the crime rate.

Researchers found that even a 10 per cent increase in gambling expenditure in NSW resulted in an additional 4500 assaults, almost 3000 more home break-ins, and 1300 extra break and enter offences.

• Guest:Professor Donald Weatherburn, lead author of the study
  Producer: Anne Barker