Gambling addiction deaths, a cause of concern
September 20, 2005
A Herald Sun investigation has uncovered Victorians' harmful addiction to poker machines. Statistics show at least 70 cases of unfortunate gambling deaths by addicts or their partners who had killed themselves since June 2001.
The findings showed poker machines as the main gambling form which led people to commit suicide. Roulette and horse racing were the other two killers. Victorians lost nearly $2.4 billion on 27,000 poker machines last year and the state government had collected $ 1.37 billion as gambling taxes. However Julie Nelson, the Gamblers Help northern manager said, for every suicide there were numerous gambling addicts who were relieved of their addiction and taken out from danger. The study shows that a suicide by an addictive gambler is often the result of financial crisis and feeling of unworthiness.
