North-West Coasters are losing more money per capita on poker machines than any other part of the state, according to a new report.
The report, from the Anglicare Social Research Action Centre, also showed the number of people on the North-West seeking help with gambling addictions had doubled in 2022 and last year, compared to a 33% rise in the rest of the state.
According to the report, Tasmanians lost almost $190 million on pokies for the same period, which equates to around half a million dollars a day.
It says on average, Tasmanians lose $3350 a year on pokies.
The North-West Coast also has more poker machines per capita than any other region, with 64 machines per 10,000 people, compared to 35 per 10,000 in the North and 23 per 10,000 in the South, with many of the machines concentrated in suburbs and towns which have a low socio-economic demographic.
