Hi again - 

This is feedback regarding cost/benefit analysis from
Gambling Issues International listserve ... both
respondents live in Australia which has one of the
highest densities of VLTs in the world (New Zealand
may have a higher density but don't quote me).  

As there are numerous research studies that indicate
much individual and community harm by increased
opportunities to gamble the recent government decision
that Keith mentions seems to fly in the face of the
evidence (my editorial comment).  Again, in my
opinion, one has to be very careful regarding the
interpretation of gambling research as it seems to be
sometimes tainted by ideological and financial
interests.  In the US, for example, the Harvard
Problem Gambling Research Centre is largely funded by
the gambling industry and how much this may influence
findings is a question.

You might be interested in this listserve Melissa if
you are not on it already.

I've included brackets around some of the information
to make it easier to follow ... 

Regards, Christine


Hi Christine,

To follow up on Chris's point, we recently had a
decision here (Australia) which said that the
opportunity to gamble is a significant and often 
overwhelming community benefit which outweighed issues
such as problem gambling and other harms. You can read
more about this on page three of our last newsletter -
 
http://www.ghsouthern.org.au/gm/GM%20January%202006.pdf

Thanks,

Keith D.
Gambler's Help Southern

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Freethy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:04 AM
Subject: RE: [GII] cost/benefit analysis of gambling


> Hi Christine,
>
> The Productivity Commission inquiry here in
Australia in 99 addressed this issue (as have some
other studies prior to and since).  However, the best
you are likely to achieve is a highly contentious
range rather than a concrete outcome.  The PC inquiry
(Australian Productivity Commission), for instance, 
wound up with a broad potential range that was debated
vigorously by the various stakeholders.  

I also seem to recall Tracy Schrans 
cautioning recently about the utility of cost benefit
analyses. (Tracy Schrans from Focal Research in
Halifax, NS has done and is doing some very cutting
edge research in gambling/problem gambling).
>
> Regards,
>
> Chris
>




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