Updated June 22, 2017 17:01:55

Tasmania's auditor-general has been unable to judge if the state's problem gambling programs are working.

A performance audit has examined how effectively Treasury's Liquor and Gaming Branch managed the collection of gambling revenue, and the effectiveness of harm-minimisation measures.

When poker machines were rolled out in Tasmanian pubs and clubs in the 1990s, a Community Support Levy (CSL) was set up, with money to go into community programs and into research about problem gambling.

Auditor-general Rod Whitehead said there was not a reliable measurement about the prevalence of problem gambling.

"No conclusion can be made as to whether activities funded by the CSL to reduce the risk of harm from gambling are achieving the intended outcomes, as the evidence is insufficient for us to form an opinion," he said.

"The Productivity Commission identified that difficulties arising from the nature of problem gambling - such as stigma, deceit, and irrational beliefs that the next wager will solve any problems - means sufferers are unlikely to identify themselves."

Because there has never been a reliable measure of how many Tasmanians are problem gamblers, the auditor-general could not determine how much CSL programs had contributed to reducing harm.

Anglicare Tasmania estimates there are 2,000 problem gamblers in Tasmania, and a further 6,000 "moderate risk" gamblers, and together these people lose 40% of the total spend of gambling in the state.

Independent MP for Denison Andrew Wilkie - who has long opposed the proliferation of poker machines - said it was evident from other data that the CSL programs were not working.

"When you look at the figures more broadly, there has been no significant reduction in poker machine revenue over the last several years," he said.

"[And] there has been no significant change in the rate of gambling addiction in Tasmania.

"While it's fair enough the auditor-general is struggling to understand the effectiveness of the programs funded by the CSL, we do know overall the whole range of harm-minimisation measures are pretty much ineffective."

The Tasmanian Greens are pushing for the number of poker machines to be limited.

"Rather than tinkering around the edges, we'd like to see the Liberals take harm minimisation on pokies really seriously and remove them from pubs and clubs in Tasmania," leader Cassy O'Connor said.

Mr Whitehead did recommend the services provided under a gambling support program should improve their targets and performance measures.

He also recommended the state's Neighbourhood House model - which provides an alternative venue to pubs or casinos to socialise in the evening - be reviewed, so it can better cater to problem gamblers.

The audit also found Treasury was effectively collecting all the revenue derived from gambling in Tasmania, and was distributing it correctly to the CSL administrators.

A parliamentary inquiry is currently underway to examine the Federal Group monopoly on poker machines, amid calls for more assistance for problem gamblers.

Federal Group owns both of Tasmania's two casinos, and has exclusive rights to all of the state's poker machines under a license set to expire in 2023.

The Tasmanian Government has already vowed to put gaming licences out to public tender, which could break the monopoly Federal Group has held for over 40 years.

Topics: gambling, community-and-society, tas

First posted June 22, 2017 16:00:03

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Success of Tasmanian problem gambling programs can't be judged, auditor-general finds - ABC Online