What is the impact of poker machine gambling and online betting on mental health?

In case you missed it, the Mapleton Pub team featured in an ABC story this month regarding their decision to sell their two poker machine licenses for around $400K and utilise this money to refurbish the hotel and build family friendly amenities. Wow! (The online response to their decision has also been overwhelmingly positive.)

Problem gambling is a huge mental health issue in Australia. We are the world’s biggest gamblers per capita spending $25 billion a year, and nearly half of this goes into poker machines.

We have 20% of the world’s poker machines, despite our relatively small population.

It’s estimated that only 1% of poker machine users exhibit problem gambling behaviour, and it’s contested what proportion of gambling revenue comes from this group.

However, I think it’s reasonable to conclude that the intense pushback from the AHA and casino operators regarding the proposed introduction of enforceable curbs to problem gambling on poker machines, indicates problem gamblers represent an income stream worth fighting for.

The manual of mental disorders,DSM-V, now includes Gambling Disorder, recognising the parallels with substance addiction in terms of irrational action against the interests of the sufferer, and the dire impacts on health, relationships, and security.

Gambling in the form of poker machines (and online betting) deliberately targets the neuropsychological vulnerabilities of those with Gambling Disorder.

Relying on the user with Gambling Disorder to self regulate or self exclude is a nonsense, and the only greater nonsense is the call to protect the “freedom” of those with Gambling Disorder to bankrupt their family, descend into life threatening depression, and lose everything that sustains them.

Defenders of legal gambling fall back to the benefit to the public from the taxes imposed on the industry. But as data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics shows, this is money coming directly from the pockets of the people who have lower incomes, and who are losing it on machines that are designed to addict them.

Australia is in desperate need of uniform, enforceable, and external limitations being placed on these companies. No easy objective given the revenues governments, political parties, and entertainment venues gain from this process. Good on you Mapleton Hotel!

Have you been searching for a position that allows you to provide support and give back to your local community? RangeCare may have the opportunity you’ve been searching for.

Since its beginnings in 1986, RangeCare has had a strong commitment to providing an exceptional level of person-centred care to the local community.

As a not-for-profit community care provider, RangeCare offers a wide variety of services including nursing care, domestic assistance, social support, meal deliveries, technology support, minor home and garden maintenance, wellness programs and day and overnight respite to the local elderly and physically disadvantaged population.

RangeCare’s strong reputation for delivering quality in-home, respite and social support services is because of its dedicated team of care support workers, nurses, drivers and domestic assistants who are kind, compassionate, and respectful.

RangeCare staff live and breathe the core values that have been built upon a foundation of strong leadership and a commitment to building strong relationships with our clients and their loved ones.

“I'm proud to be part of the organisation because of the people that I work with — from our staff to the volunteers, including the board, they allow us to deliver a person-centred care approach, which most people would agree is above and beyond what maybe other organisations are currently offering,” said Chief Operating Officer, Gary Holland.

RangeCare is looking to increase their service offerings by expanding their team across the Sunshine Coast, Hinterland, Gympie and Cooloola Coast Regions. The organisation is currently recruiting for a range of positions including Services Manager, Service Coordinator, Registered Nurse, Care Support Workers and Domestic Assistants.