Industry claims that poker machine reform will cost $5 billion can only be described as fanciful, with a new analysis by The Australia Institute showing that the cost is likely to be between $171 million and $342 million.

This paper details the actual and potential challenges, and impact, of gambling and corruption practices on sports in Australia.

The Coalition’s approach to problem gambling is about addressing the social, economic and policy challenges of gambling reform.

In the context of the prevalence of match-fixing internationally, the rise of sports betting and the inadequacy of existing criminal laws to deal with cheating at gambling, this review recommends new criminal offences as well as the rationalisation and consolidation of existing laws.

Stronger harm minimisation measures are needed, mainly aimed at 'pokies', including lowering the intensity of play and the capacity for gamblers to set spending limits on themselves, according to this report. Gamblers in Australia spend (lose) over $18 billion per year including nearly $12 billion on poker machines. The Commission estimates that problem gamblers account...