In Gladstone, more and more adults are becoming engrossed in gambling due to a lack of other social activities. According to a report in The Observer, residents are turning to pokies simply because there isn’t much else to do in the city.
According to Matthew Rockloff, associate professor at Central Queensland University, the residents of Gladstone have significantly higher incomes than those living in other areas of the state – but they don’t have many options for spending their money. Since there is an abundance of pokie clubs, residents tend to spend their free time wagering on electronic gaming devices.
"We can assume in places like Gladstone that people have a high level of disposable income," he says. "Plus Gladstone doesn't have a lot of other entertainment options in town." It doesn’t seem to help matters that gambling is the only entertainment market that is expanding in Gladstone. In August, 29 new pokies were added to clubs in the area, and the Reef Hotel launched a new gaming floor with 40 new pokies.
Pubs and clubs are offering residents more and more opportunities to gamble, but providing them with few other options. Fortunately, gaming club owners take their harm minimisation measures very seriously. Self-exclusion is available at clubs, so players can choose to ban themselves if they find that they are spending too much money on gambling and poker machines.
They can also seek assistance from Gambling Help Queensland, a problem gambling organization which provides free counselling. Over the course of the past year, Gladstone residents have spent $41 million on pokies. To curb spending, the local government would have to start an initiative that would introduce alternative entertainment options in the city.
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