Poker machines are "a dangerous product" like heroin and guns, according to gambling reform advocates, as post-pandemic gambling losses near record numbers in Queensland.
In the financial year to May, Queenslanders spent $4.2 billion on gambling, with fears economic uncertainty is making the problem worse.
More than half of that came from pokies at pubs and clubs, with $2.8 billion spent in the 12 months to June.
The numbers are among the highest ever recorded at the pokies, with Brisbane, Gold Coast and Moreton local government areas leading the pack.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said urgent changes were needed to help stem the problem.
"It's the blind spot Australia has," he said.
"The rest of the world shakes its head at America [for its gun laws], but the rest of the world shakes its head at Australia's gambling losses — the greatest per capita of any nation of the world."
The Office of Liquor and Gaming said it was committed to "reducing gambling harm", and noted Queenslanders' expenditure was down about 2 per cent across all gambling — not just pokies — on 2020–21 figures.
Uncertainty and fear fuel bets
The Gold Coast's record monthly loss on the pokies was in August 2020 at $38 million, following COVID lockdowns, according to the Alliance for Gambling Reform.
The city is the second biggest loser in Queensland behind Brisbane, with Gold Coast punters spending $36 million on pokies in June 2022 — up $7 million on the same month the previous year.
Mr Costello said lifestyle, population, and accessibility of pokies were to blame.
"Seventy-five per cent of the world's pokies in pubs and clubs are in Australia, and 30 per cent are in Queensland," he said.
"The Gold Coast is a mecca for retirement but also resorts and the beach … and has so many pokies.
"It's destination gambling."
With interest rates rising and tough economic times ahead, Mr Costello said he expected patterns to start to emerge at the slots.
Census data shows 42 per cent of Gold Coasters are facing rental stress.
"In tougher times, we see pokies go up because of rising interest rates, living costs, and uncertainty in the world and fear," he said.
"This always produces a spike in gambling because it's that false gold glitter of hope that 'I can actually bury my problems, have a win, have some hope'."
"That's the psychological forces we see at work."
The Queensland government's own Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan for Queensland 2021–25, released last year, recognised the COVID-19 pandemic could increase problem gambling.
'A dangerous product'
A spokesperson for the Office of Liquor and Gaming said the Queensland government had an "ongoing commitment" to reducing gambling-related harm and problem gambling.
In June, the government announced an independent review into Star's suitability to continue to operate casinos in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The inquiry came after allegations of money laundering and fraudulent activity at Star Entertainment's venues in New South Wales.
The report is due back to the Attorney-General on September 30.
Mr Costello said gambling messages adopted by major casinos and betting companies put the onus on the individual.
"No responsibility is expected of the industry," he said.
"'Gamble responsibly' is like saying 'use heroin responsibly'. "
"This is a dangerous product that breaks up families."
A spokesperson for the Office of Liquor and Gaming said the government had committed to a shift to "safer gambling" rather than "responsible gambling" as part of the Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan.
"This recognises that there are safe levels of gambling consumption," the statement said.
"Issues with the tagline 'gamble responsibly' are also being addressed in online wagering environments."
Mr Costello likened the "gamble responsibly" strategies to America's National Rifle Association (NRA).
He said the NRA philosophy was "guns don't kill … people kill" — "never blame the gun, blame the person".
Gambling 'an addiction', says financial counsellor
According to the state government, more than 70 per cent of Queenslanders gamble and there are more than 44,117 poker machines in pubs, clubs, and casinos.
A financial counsellor at Uniting Care, Janene O'Donnell, said the number of gamblers looking for help had been increasing.
"Quite often we're finding the people who are ringing through have a pattern of 'buy now, pay later' or pay-day lending loans," she said.
"After a few questions, you suddenly start to find that it's as a result of gambling."
Ms O'Donnell said the impacts of gambling were far-reaching, and "very few people come in as an island".
"Sometimes it's a partner who discovers that they've now got a second mortgage they didn't know about, or there is a whole heap of credit cards that they weren't aware of," she said.
She said gambling was still seen by some as a "lifestyle choice".
"And we all know that that is not necessarily the case — it is an addiction," she said.
"It's still impacting society, it's still a cost to our health system."
The Queensland government's Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan said the government had a "public health approach to addressing gambling-related harm", which recognised "government, community and industry all have a role to play".
Mr Costello said gambling reforms could include reduced operating hours and mandatory spending limits.
"You're awake at 2am, you're lonely, maybe drunk too much, you can sleep or get into the pokies," he said.
"And that's where the damage happens."
A spokesperson for the Office of Liquor and Gaming said the Queensland government framework to help problem gambling included "controlling the accessibility of gambling through caps and licensing processes [and] evaluating products in terms of harm", among others.
They said the government spent about $7 million on a gambling help service, including a gambling helpline, and an internet-based counselling service.
The head of Clubs Queensland did not respond to the ABC's questions.
