Poker machine loses fifth in state
REGULAR Ipswich poker machine players lose an average $1765 a year according to a new Uniting Care Australia report.
The research conducted by Monash University aims to "improve the information that citizens and services have on poker machine expenditure in local communities" and defined results by federal electorate.
In the electorate of Blair, which takes in most Ipswich suburbs, the average regular poker machine player loses 6.4% of their median individual income per year, the fifth highest in Queensland. Players in the Western Sydney seat of Blaxland top the list losing a staggering 34.2% of median incomes to poker machines each year.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann agreed poker machines are a major problem in the community.
"We have a problem in Australia with gambling on poker machines which is why the Labor Government wants to trial a mandatory pre-commitment scheme." he said
"Every dollar spent on poker machines and is one dollar less spent on food, clothing and household necessities."
