Australian players lose $26 million to AFL club-owned slot machines
Date: 2023-09-08 Author: Kirill Zagoruyko Categories: EVENTS
Gambling is considered a major public health problem in Australia. Players lose hundreds of millions of dollars on the infamous poker machines, also known as slot machines, resulting in billions of dollars in losses each year. Despite changes in the country's gambling sector, widespread slot machines continue to attract gamblers, some of whom suffer from gambling problems.
Now a new report shows that more than A$40 million ($25.6 million) was lost to slot machines owned by Australian Football League (AFL) clubs in the last financial year. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda are currently the last remaining AFL clubs with a gambling license in Victoria. Amid growing concerns about problem gambling, the licenses have raised eyebrows, but players continue to pour millions into club-owned slot machines.
A recent report cites data from Victoria's gaming regulator, the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC). The data showed that in the financial year from July 2022 to June 2023, about A$40.3 million ($25.8 million) was lost on 690 slot machines owned by four AFL clubs.
An analysis of the total shows that Carlton's slot machines earned A$19.1 million ($12.2 million) in the last financial year. This result marked a significant increase over the same period last year, which recorded US$14.6 million ($9.3 million) between 2020 and 2021. Likewise, playing through Essendon's 190 slot machines saw players lose A$14.7 million (US$9.4 million) in its recent financial report. year.
Richmond slot machine losses between July 2022 and June 2023 totaled A$4.6 million ($2.9 million), another increase from the same period the previous year. Last but not least, players lost A$1.8 million ($1.2 million) to St Kilda-owned slot machines.
Trade in the suffering of the people
Charles Livingstone, a gambling expert at Monash University, criticized the revenue the four AFL clubs receive from gambling. He called the actions "exploitative", warning that targeting people vulnerable through gambling could negatively impact the clubs' reputations.
"Trading on people's misery is not the way to win over the average person, especially football fans who really want an entertainment forum that is enjoyable and family friendly." Charles Livingstone, gambling expert at Monash University
Livingston spoke about gambling, explaining that the activity releases chemicals in the brain that make a person feel good. He said that this feeling is what makes slot machines addictive and is one of the reasons why so many people suffer from gambling problems. The gambling expert also said that many gamblers view the activity as an “escapism from reality.”
Now a new report shows that more than A$40 million ($25.6 million) was lost to slot machines owned by Australian Football League (AFL) clubs in the last financial year. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda are currently the last remaining AFL clubs with a gambling license in Victoria. Amid growing concerns about problem gambling, the licenses have raised eyebrows, but players continue to pour millions into club-owned slot machines.
A recent report cites data from Victoria's gaming regulator, the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC). The data showed that in the financial year from July 2022 to June 2023, about A$40.3 million ($25.8 million) was lost on 690 slot machines owned by four AFL clubs.
An analysis of the total shows that Carlton's slot machines earned A$19.1 million ($12.2 million) in the last financial year. This result marked a significant increase over the same period last year, which recorded US$14.6 million ($9.3 million) between 2020 and 2021. Likewise, playing through Essendon's 190 slot machines saw players lose A$14.7 million (US$9.4 million) in its recent financial report. year.
Richmond slot machine losses between July 2022 and June 2023 totaled A$4.6 million ($2.9 million), another increase from the same period the previous year. Last but not least, players lost A$1.8 million ($1.2 million) to St Kilda-owned slot machines.
Trade in the suffering of the people
Charles Livingstone, a gambling expert at Monash University, criticized the revenue the four AFL clubs receive from gambling. He called the actions "exploitative", warning that targeting people vulnerable through gambling could negatively impact the clubs' reputations.
"Trading on people's misery is not the way to win over the average person, especially football fans who really want an entertainment forum that is enjoyable and family friendly." Charles Livingstone, gambling expert at Monash University
Livingston spoke about gambling, explaining that the activity releases chemicals in the brain that make a person feel good. He said that this feeling is what makes slot machines addictive and is one of the reasons why so many people suffer from gambling problems. The gambling expert also said that many gamblers view the activity as an “escapism from reality.”
