Australia's gambling policy: Motivations, implications, and options*

Abstract

The paper will discuss current gambling policy in Australia. The attraction of the use of gambling as a method of "painless taxation" is recognised, but its potentiality for damaging individuals and society will be considered. Five policy options are identified. Much evidence will be drawn from the three-volume report Australia's Gambling Industries, and there will be an evaluation of the Australian Interactive Gambling Act, 2001. The assessment of the least damaging form of gambling policy, when all aspects of gambling are taken into account, is the ultimate aim of this paper.