More than
80% of Australian adults engage in
gambling of some kind, which is the highest rate
of gambling in the world.
This number includes 4% of the adult population
who play the pokies once a week, accounting
for some 62% of their annual gambling spend.
Gambling is a significant public health issue, with
around
80,000 to 160,000 Australian adults
experiencing significant problems from gambling
and a further
250,000 to 350,000 adults
experiencing moderate risks that may make them
vulnerable to problem gambling.
Gambling is a form of addiction. Those with a
gambling problem can have similar chemical
changes in their brains to those seen in
people addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Gambling Help Online is a good 24/7 starter
for anybody addicted to gambling.