Australia has the highest gambling losses in the world, according to a new Grattan Institute report that calls on federal and state governments to stand up to “vested Interests” and implement a complete ban on gambling ads and limits on how much people can bet when at the pokies and via online betting platforms.
The report, A Better Bet: How Australia Should Prevent Gambling Harm, says Australia has the highest gambling losses in the world because governments have taken “a lax approach to regulating gambling” and “let the gambling industry run wild”.
It notes past reform pushes have failed “because of well-funded, coordinated attacks by vested interests” and that has led to big losses.
Australians lost $24 billion gambling in 2020-21, the…