By MELISSA KING
THE first definitive study of the effects of all forms of gambling on the state's economy will be commissioned in March.
The Independent Gambling Authority wants a comprehensive profile of the industry and an analysis of its impact on employment and a range of related industries.
The review will take at least six months and will also examine the effects of a freeze on gaming machines.
"This particular piece of work has not been undertaken before in South Australia," IGA secretary Robert Chappell said yesterday.
"We think it will be of some considerable interest to policy formation."
Mr Chappell said the study was the first of a series of research projects to be undertaken this year under the authority's charter.
Gambling taxes will reap about $400 million for the State Government this financial year. In the decade since poker machines were introduced, South Australians have lost nearly $5 billion from a total turnover of more than $40 billion. In 2002-03, the total amount spent on gambling in SA was $7.4 billion. After months of debate, Parliament last month passed legislation to remove 3000 poker machines.
Major features of the new laws include exempting sporting and community clubs from the cuts, giving hotels a 10-year guarantee of no further machine reductions and capping machine sale prices at $50,000.
The IGA research – for which tenders have been called – will include a profile of the industry and look at the casino, pokies venues, lotteries, the TAB and other forms of wagering.
It will map trends in employment in each sector, and examine whether gamblers switch from one form of gambling to another.
It will cover economic benefits such as employment and tourism and any flow-on benefits to other industries, such as construction.
A second phase of the review will look at the economic contribution of each sector of the gambling industry.
The Advertiser
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment