WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL COSTS OF GAMBLING - THE CASE OF THE QUEENSLAND MACHINE GAMING INDUSTRY

Gambling has frequently been blamed for contributing to a range of soc ial and economic problems for players and their families. The introduc tion of gaming machines (more commonly referred to as ''poker machines '' or ''pokies'') to clubs and hotels in Queensland in 1992 attracted such criticism. This paper presents data from a survey conducted in Br isbane in May 1994, funded by the Department of Family Services and Ab original and Islander Affairs, which seeks to assess the characteristi cs of gaming machine players and to evaluate the extent to which playe rs and their families seem disproportionately likely to experience soc ial and economic difficulties. The survey led to a number of noteworth y findings, many of which challenge conventional stereotypes concernin g the characteristics of players and the consequences of their playing . Firstly men, the young and those in employment are disproportionatel y likely to be players. Secondly, playing is spread evenly across diff erent occupations and levels of educational achievement. Thirdly, most players appear not to play very often or spend very large amounts of money. Fourthly, while there is evidence that money is being diverted from necessities to machine gaming, there is virtually no evidence of an association between machine playing and economic hardship.