ONLINE gambling is now regarded as a major player in the gambling industry.
National advocate The Alliance for Gambling Reform says that statistics show online gambling has risen 80 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The speed of this shift to online gambling is simply breathtaking,” Peninsula Voice chairperson Peter Orton said.
“It is uncommon to discernibly notice how local culture can be changed so dramatically, as we are seeing with the rise of digital gambling.
“Most people are becoming aware of the sheer number of ads which pervade most sporting media coverage. The advertisements are so seamlessly weaved into the coverage of the event that it is becoming difficult to separate the gambling from the actual event.”
Statistics showing the growth of this global digital business model is now surpassing all other forms of gambling across the country were presented to the 11 March meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s gambling consultative committee meeting.
The most recent Victorian Auditor General’s Report into gambling states the 2014/15 social impact cost in Victoria was $6.96 billion.
Gambling reform advocate, the Rev Tim Costello, who has been raising this issue for some time now, is joining Deakin University professor Dr Samantha Thomas and former mayor Sam Hearn in a panel discussion on online gambling.
The discussion is part of the Is Gambling Harm our Blind Spot? community public forum, 6.30pm Thursday 20 May at the Peninsula Community Theatre.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 May 2021
