Historical publications

Gambling: is it a health hazard? Occasional Papers New Series Number 2

This second publication in the Occasional Papers New Series, Gambling: Is it a health hazard? was prepared as the Department’s Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Australia’s Gambling Industries.

This submission largely addresses terms of reference 3(d) the social impacts of the gambling industries; 3(g) the impact of gambling on Commonwealth, state and territory budgets; and 3(h) the adequacy of ABS statistics involving gambling. It concentrates on only a few of the issues raised by the Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper: the definition of gambling; gambling as a health issue and the consequent costs to the Commonwealth; the need for governments to adopt a more active approach to preventing harm from problem gambling; the roles of government in relation to gambling, including hypothecation of gambling revenues to health related programs and projects; and areas for further research.

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For further information regarding the Occasional Papers Series, or if you are having trouble accessing any of these documents, please contact enquiries@health.gov.au

Please note that the information and data in this paper, while accurate at the time of publication, may now be out of date. Care should therefore be taken in using it.