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20th October 2023
New analysis reveals the areas in Western Sydney that are at the epicentre of gambling related harm, accounting for one-third of all Sydney’s poker machine losses.
The Centre for Western Sydney’s latest issues paper, Luck of the draw? Inside Western Sydney’s gambling harm epidemic for the first time identifies the locations where a concentration of pokies and disadvantage collide to put communities at higher risk of gambling harm. The paper is the second in a series on the effects of gambling by the Centre based at Western Sydney University.
Nearly $9 million a day is lost gambling in pubs and clubs in Sydney’s West.
The Centre’s analysis shows that despite only making up 16.5 per cent of Sydney’s population, just three local government areas – Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Cumberland – account for one-third of all Sydney’s gambling losses.
Fairfield is at ground zero of the gambling harm epidemic, with one poker machine available for every 55 people.
Report author, Mr Tom Nance said, "The data emphatically shows that Western Sydney is the ground zero of gambling related harm. All thirteen locations of significant concern, where some of the most vulnerable are at significant risk of losing big, are in the region."
"High levels of socio-economic disadvantage are a significant risk factor for gambling related harm," he said. "This continues to play out in real-time in Western Sydney where the frontlines of the gambling related harm epidemic mirror its most disadvantaged local areas."
The analysis of the latest ABS Census data and data from Liquor and Gaming NSW further reveals:
- Despite only containing 54 per cent of Sydney’s population, Western Sydney endures 63 per cent of electronic gaming machine losses.
- There was an increase of 169 electronic gaming machines in Western Sydney in the previous 12 month reporting period, compounding the already high levels of electronic gaming machine saturation in the region.
- The disproportionate number of "mega-clubs" in Western Sydney is a significant contributor to this saturation.
- The frontlines of the gambling related harm epidemic align with locations that experience high levels of socio-economic disadvantage.
Mr Nance said the identification of the locations at the epicentre of the issue provides an evidence-based rational for targeted interventions, which are critical to addressing the impacts that communities face due to gambling related harm.
"Over three quarters of these locations are defined as being in the top decile in Sydney for both disadvantage and electronic gaming machine saturation, and are home to at least one pub or club that is in the top decile for profits from gambling," he said.
Mr Nance added that given the significant proportion of locations of concern situated in Western Sydney, insights from those on the ground will be critical in addressing the epidemic and should inform the Minns Government’s cashless gaming technology trial.
Download the Luck of the draw issues paper.
