Australia's Gambling Industries - Productivity Commission

Table J.12
Value of annual transfers as a result of problem gambling
($ million, 1997-98)
low
high
Debts 26 26
Unemployment payments 4.1 4.1
Value of money obtained illegally 4.9 31
TOTAL 35 62
Source: PC estimates.
Social costs by mode of gambling
The social costs presented in table J.11 have been allocated to the different modes of
gambling on the basis of significance of that mode in problem gamblers’
expenditure (see chapter 5). Because gaming machines account for some 76 per cent
of the total amount of money spent by problem gamblers in 1997-98, 76 per cent of
the social costs have been allocated to that mode (table J.13).
Table J.13 Social costs of gambling by mode of gambling (1997-98)
Share of expenditure in
that mode accounted for
by problem gamblers
Expenditure by problem
gamblers
Social costs of
gambling
% $ million $ million
Wagering 33.1 529 267 — 830
Lotteries 5.7 68 34 — 106
Scratchies 19.1 47 24 — 74
Gaming machines 42.3 2 710 1 369 — 4 250
Casino gaming 10.7 96 48 — 150
Other 25.0 112 57 — 176
All gambling 33.0 3 562 1 800 — 5 586
Source: Commission estimates.
J.38 GAMBLING