Southern Australians bet over USD 7 billion on poker machines in 2007 according to the country’s Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commission.

Gambling minister Paul Caica responded to calls that the rise had fuelled an increase in problem gambling by saying that the state government was continuing to work closely with the gaming industry and the Concern Sector to develop a „comprehensive range of approaches that directly target problem gambling.“

The new figure recently released by the Australian Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commission shows a rise of over USD 2.6 billion since 2001.