I note to my surprise that the NRMA has lined up with Clubs NSW to oppose increases in poker machine tax. I'm uncomfortable about the government being addicted to pokie tax money as well, but probably not for the reasons given by the NRMA. "Ultimately the poker tax does ensure the sustainability of clubs in the community and really clubs are an extended family in today's community." said CEO Tony Stuart last week. Is it just me, or is the family metaphor slightly troubling given the extent of gambling and problem gaming in Australia, home to 21% of the world's poker machines.

Here are some statistics, from Volume 153 of Issues in Society, entitled Gambling in Australia:

• The 13 casinos operating in Australia during the year recorded an operating profit of $452 million, which represented an operating profit margin of 15.1%. In 1998-1999 the industry's operating profit was $93 million and the profit margin 3.4%. The total income of casinos was $3,038 million, of which $2,397 million was from gambling income. Takings from gaming tables ($1,438 million) and takings from poker/gaming machines ($938 million) both increased by 8% since 1998-1999. (p.4)

• According to a Productivity Commission report (1999), Australia had nearly 180,000 poker machines; 21% of all the gambling machines in the world. (p.6)

• The Productivity Commission report also finds 2.3% of adult Australians have significant gambling problems, losing more than $12,000 each a year. (p.6)

• The Productivity Commission's own surveys found that 42% of problem gamblers had gone without food as a result of their habit. More than 90% considered themselves depressed as a result of their gambling; 37% had considered suicide, while 11.2% had attempted to kill themselves. (p.6)

• About 52% of problem gamblers said they had borrowed money and not paid it back, 36% said they had sold property to raise money to bet and 43% said they sometimes went without food to pay for their addiction. One in four suffered divorce or separation and one in 10 had attempted suicide. (p.8)

• The study presented the controversial estimate that the social cost of betting was between $1 billion and $5 billion a year, but it found that the overall economic benefit to society was between $150 million and $5.2 billion. (p.8)

• About 82% of adult Australians gamble, the highest rate in the world. 40% gamble at least once a week. (p.8)

• Two million Australians feel the social and financial impact of problem gambling. (p.8)

• These are some of the reasons why people gamble too much: excitement and positive feeling of self worth; a way to feel successful; an outlet for anger; an outlet for rebelliousness; social acceptance; escape from painful feelings; an outlet for competitiveness; using gambling as a way to solve money problems (which is often caused by earlier gambling). (p.17)

• The Salvation Army estimates Australia's homeless number at about 130,000 - a 25,000 increase on the 1996 census figure, and attributed partly to the growth in gambling. (p.23)

• More than 40% of 14-year-old Victorian school children had gambled in the last year, a recent survey of Victorian school children has found. (p.39)

Given some of the social issues caused, or exacerbated, by gambling, and poker machines in particular, it seems reasonable to tax them to help address those problems, just as we do with tobacco. And I think an industry which pulls in tens of thousands of dollars a year/machine just for letting them sit there can afford it. This also seems like quite a political decision to make with a board election on and the possibility of a change of board composition and leadership.

Besides which, what sort of family sits near-silently alongside one-another staring at a screen? Why it almost sounds like family's who watch TV over dinner!