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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Tasmanians Lost Record $208 Million on Poker Machines Last Financial Year

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Tasmanians lost a record $208.27 million to poker machines in the last financial year, a 6.9% increase from the previous year.
  • This figure surpasses the previous record set in 2011-12 and brings the total losses over 15 years to $2.79 billion.
  • Critics blame the government for causing harm to families, while the government points to harm minimization measures and an abandoned cashless gaming card plan.

Tasmanians lost a record $208.27 million to poker machines in the 2025-26 financial year, marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year and surpassing the $208.15 million lost in 2011-12. Over the past 15 years, losses have accumulated to $2.79 billion.

This is not theoretical harm, it is real-world impacts for Tasmanian families, including increases in homelessness, mental health crises, domestic violence, poverty, crime and loss of employment and education opportunities.

— Meg WebbDescribing the real-world consequences of gambling losses on Tasmanian families.

Independent MP Meg Webb described the amount as "horrifying," stating it has "real-world impacts" on Tasmanian families, contributing to homelessness, mental health crises, domestic violence, poverty, and loss of employment and education. She accused the Rockliff government of deliberately harming Tasmanians to benefit its donors.

Mark Kempster from the Alliance for Gambling Reform expressed alarm, calling the figures shameful given the cost of living crisis. He urged the state Liberal government and Labor opposition to be ashamed.

We can only conclude the Rockliff government is causing deliberate harm to Tasmanians to deliver skyrocketing super profits to its donor mates.

— Meg WebbAccusing the government of intentionally harming citizens for profit.

Acting Premier Guy Barnett stated the government is focused on "substantial and ongoing" harm minimization measures. However, the government has abandoned plans for a mandatory cashless gaming card, which gambling harm experts considered the "gold standard." Instead, it will pursue a cashless ticket system, ATMs in venues, longer operating hours, and enhanced self-exclusion programs.

In a time where we are facing a generation-altering cost of living crisis, this is a number that every member of the state Liberal government and Labor opposition in Tasmania should be truly ashamed of.

— Mark KempsterExpressing shame over the gambling losses amid a cost of living crisis.

Treasurer Eric Abetz defended the reforms as proportional and practical, respecting "personal agency." He emphasized viewing the measures as a reinforcing package rather than isolated initiatives. The Liquor and Gaming Commission had previously warned the government that the cashless card plan could create "greater harm."

Those reforms are substantial and ongoing.

— Guy BarnettDescribing the government's commitment to harm minimization measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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