<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New research has revealed the scale of Australia's pokies problem, with gamblers on average forking over far more than safe amounts of money.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data has shown that one third of Australian adults use poker machines at least once a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Excluding Western Australia, where poker machines are banned outside of Perth Casino, that equates to about 6.6 million people.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/hulk-hogan-death-professional-wrestling-icon-dies-aged-71/59ffe311-b3cc-4b61-b162-1c5bd463ab9d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New analysis by The Australia Institute revealed that between them, these gamblers lose about $13 billion a year, or more than $1950 each on average.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Based on an updated version of the most detailed study of gambling in the country, The Australia Institute found the amount an average gambler can afford to lose on poker machines is $301 per year, known as their "low-risk gambling limit".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Poker machines are making a killing from problem gamblers," analysis author Skye Predavec said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/poker-machine-losses-costing-gamblers-1950-dollars-a-year-each-on-average/c748e81a-7230-4960-9d17-7b154b82fb35" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/wet-weather-for-most-of-the-country-friday-weekend-forecast/f9a2f324-67f5-4733-b572-2679a662ecdb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions facing winter blast as weather warnings issued</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/07/24/09/11/today-in-history-july-25-what-happened-on-this-day"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/9kYtI_i4T0cFqyws87bqRg4C9WM=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fec544f8e-6718-4153-911a-cf17ba3a72c7" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/9kYtI_i4T0cFqyws87bqRg4C9WM=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fec544f8e-6718-4153-911a-cf17ba3a72c7 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/DU5oMi870XkCpO2_tCsT8yP2rgs=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fec544f8e-6718-4153-911a-cf17ba3a72c7 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Scientists told patients they were being treated for a fatal disease - but it was a lie</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/07/24/09/11/today-in-history-july-25-what-happened-on-this-day">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If the vast majority of poker machine profits come from risky gambling rather than those who gamble responsibly, it's time politicians treated the industry in line with the harm it causes."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said Australians were losing "vast sums" they could not afford to.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This can have a terrible impact on their personal finances, health, work and wellbeing, which, in turn, impacts families and relationships," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.</span></strong></div></div>