University of Ballarat undertakes gaming impact study

By Brendan Gullifer
Updated November 2 2012 - 3:00pm, first published November 15 2010 - 2:36pm
STUDY: Deb Greenslade is part of the University of Ballarat research team that will look at the effect electronic gaming machines will have on a developing housing estate in Whittlesea.
STUDY: Deb Greenslade is part of the University of Ballarat research team that will look at the effect electronic gaming machines will have on a developing housing estate in Whittlesea.

A University of Ballarat research team is undertaking a landmark study into the community effects of electronic gaming machines.The first-of-its-kind research is focusing on the introduction of pokies into a developing estate at Whittlesea.PhD candidate Deb Greenslade said 40 machines proposed for a local tavern would generate $4million in losses to players in the first year, and the community is determined to fight the proposal.Ms Greenslade said Victoria had almost 30,000 EGMs, with a high proportion located in disadvantage areas.She said residents of Laurimar Estate opposed the scheme because they feared an increase in hardship on local families, an increase in crime and the introduction of a "known" social problem.Residents also said the project was too large for the housing development and they thought they were getting a small wine bar and not a pokie venue.Ms Greenslade said Victorian gaming machines produced $2.7 billion revenue a year, shared by venues, Tatts and Tabcorp and the state government.More than $1 billion goes to state government revenue. Ms Greenslade said each Victorian machine takes an average of $97,810 per year. Only 33 per cent of adults play pokies with the average loss being $3073 per year.She said weekly players lose an average of $7000-$8000 annually, according to the Productivity Commission.Associated problems include child neglect, depression, family violence, suicide or attempted suicide and relationship problems, according to Ms Greenslade.Project leader Associate Professor John McDonald said the university passed up an offer from the gambling industry to fund the research.He said the university wanted to avoid the conflicts of interest that have arisen with research into alchohol, tobacco and pharmaceuticals being funded by industry heavyweights.The project is being funded by the Australian Research Council along with 25 councils across the state, including the City of Ballarat.Co-ordination is being undertaken by the Victorian Local Governance Association.

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