Australia's gamblers lose more

There are concerns about the cost to people's wealth - and health

There is no let-up in the Australian love of gambling, according to new figures released on Tuesday.

The nation lost more than A$15bn ($10bn) on slot machines, betting, lotteries and other forms of gambling in the year 2001-2002, according to the official Australian Gambling Statistics.

This equates to an average loss of A$1,017 ($690) per adult Australian - a rise of more than A$22 ($15) per person from the previous year.

Slot machines - commonly known as "pokies" - are the most popular form of gambling in Australia, the survey compiled by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission found.

Over the past 25 years, the amount spent on games, particularly pokies, has rapidly overtaken other forms of gambling such as betting on horses and dogs.

Those living in the Northern Territories were the heaviest gamblers, followed by those in New South Wales.

Gambling Losses in 2001-2002 Poker machines: A$8.9bn Casino games: A$2.5bn Betting: A$1.7bn Lottery-style games: A$1.2bn

West Australia - where pokie machines are not allowed in pubs and clubs - was home to the nation's lightest gamblers.

Anne Hollonds, chief executive officer of Relationships Australia, an organisation which helps addicts, conceded that gambling was "very much a feature of Australian life".

This is fine, she said, "if you're a well functioning mature person who doesn't have a tendency to have addiction".

"But if you're emotionally vulnerable in any way," she said, "it can be absolutely devastating".

A spokesman for the Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce said that gambling's continued popularity was no surprise.

"There is no end in sight until we can dislodge the collusive link between state treasury finances and gaming interest profits," Reverend Tim Costello told the Australian news agency AAP.