Australia's Gambling Industries - Productivity Commission

As indicated in table J.6, where practical, the Commission has included estimates
for the impact of some of these adverse consequences on family members.
Table J.6
Range of values assigned to the emotional costs associated
with problem gambling (dollars per person)
Adverse consequence identified Lower cost Higher cost
$ $
Emotional costs for the immediate family
of moderate problem gamblers ne ne
of severe problem gamblers 5 000 15 000
Emotional costs for the parents
of moderate problem gamblers ne ne
of severe problem gamblers 0 5 000
Relationship breakdown 5 000 15 000
Divorce or separation 15 000 30 000
Violence 5 000 15 000
Depression
rarely to sometimes ne ne
often to always 5 000 15 000
Seriously thought of suicide 15 000 30 000
Attempted suicide
for the gambler 30 000 50 000
for the immediate family 15 000 30 000
for the parents 0 5 000
Successful suicides ne ne
ne: not estimated.
Annual or lifetime costs
In these estimates, the Commission has sought to estimate the cost of problem
gambling in the single year 1997-98. The Commission has not attempted to estimate
the net present value of adverse consequences that continue for a number of years as
the result of an event that occurred in 1997-98.
This can be seen as assuming that the costs do not extend beyond 1997-98, or that,
were the survey to be undertaken in the following year, those continuing to suffer
from adverse consequences would be again identified and included in the relevant
year. For some conditions such as depression and the general emotional distress for
family members, this is a reasonable assumption as problem gambling episodes last
for an average of almost 9 years. Thus, for these conditions, which comprise the
bulk of the intangible costs, those suffering such costs would be included in data on
prevalence in subsequent years.
J.26 GAMBLING