Gambling reform in the ACT, 2016–2024: What impact on gaming machine expenditure?

This paper outlines the reforms to electronic gaming machine (EGM)
operations in the ACT between 2016 and 2024. It begins by detailing
the two parliamentary agreements from 2016 and 2020, along with the
reform agendas they introduced. The paper then traces the
implementation timeline of these reforms and others. The most
significant reform during this period was a reduction in the number of
EGMs.
The paper then analyses the impact of reducing EGM numbers on
problem gambling prevalence, and on EGM expenditure. Problem
gambling levels did not decrease between 2014 and 2019, the period
for which we have data. Additionally, there is no evidence that the
surrender of EGM authorisations reduced EGM expenditure. Comparing
venues that surrendered EGM authorisations with those that did not,
no relationship was found between the surrender and changes in total
EGM expenditure. This suggests that the reduction in EGM licenses led
to increased utilisation of remaining EGMs, rather than a reduction in
gambling losses overall.