The information, compiled from all State and territory gamblingauthorities, was released recently in the Australian Gambling Statistics, compiled by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission.

The $94.5 billion turnover figure represents all monies wagered on all forms of gambling including casinos, gaming machines, wagering,
bookmaking, and bingo. For instance, a player who spends $50 on a pokie and wins $10 equates to $60 in turnover.

Moreover, Australians lost a total of $11.3 billion during FY1998, and amounts to 3.2 per cent of Australia's household disposable income being lost to gambling. This compares to a loss of just over $10 billion for the previous period and corresponding turnover of $80 billion.

Total government gambling revenue is now more than $3.8 billion, up more than $400 million. Indeed, gambling taxes are now a major contributor to government coffers.

In New South Wales alone, almost $3 billion was swallowed on gaming machines. We also squnader an average of $963 every year on gambling for every adult over the age of 18.

The increasing growth of gambling from the early 1990's has no doubt encouraged the Federal Government to launch a Productivity Commission enquiry into gaming and its social and economic impacts. The draft is due to be released any day, with the report by August.

Meanwhile, the Rv Tim Costello said that the latest figures should disturb all Australians. He was quoted through the mainstream media as formally calling on Mr Howard to impose a moratorium on internet gaming, as it will only bring a quantum leap in losses to Australian gamblers. His stance has been supported by Senator Brian Harradine.

NSW total Gambling Expenditure (losses in millions)

Racing
TAB $533.85
On-course totes $59.89
On-course bookies $33.59
Sportsbetting - racing $5.07

Gaming
Lottery $46.55
Lotto,tattslotto $250.29
Pools $3.57
Gaming machines $2,989.08
Casino $446.20
Instant lottery $62.69
Keno $96.10
TOTAL $4,526.89

Chance to be a Millionaire

The ratings success of two million-dollar TV shows has paved the way for a gambling culture available to every Australian with a TV set.

Channel Seven's $Million Chance of a Lifetime and Nine's Who Wants to be a Millionaire, each achieved ratings during their pilot series that programmers only dream of (Nine achieved upwards of over 3.3 million views nationally).

As a result, both now appear to be permanent peak-hour fixtures. From Monday 31 May, the shows are telecast head-to-head every Monday to Friday for half an hour, beginning at 5.30pm.

Both shows are very similar in format. They offer the opportunity, through a selective process, for an audience contestant to answer general knowledge questions, leading up to double-up win or losses based on more detailed "Sale of the Century" type information.

Naturally, the audience and the contestant's peers are a real part of the "live" audience broadcast. Each program utilises some form of
participation, which includes a help line (dial-a-friend) and audience decision (portable computers allow the audience to register their answer to a question, which is automatically tallied to give a % majority to assist the contestant).

To enter, each would-be TV contestant must call a 1902 number, at a cost of $1. Apart from the revenue generated from telephone call-ins, the show's advertising would no doubt be charged at a premium - given the ratings popularity and peak-hour viewing time.

There's no doubt that the first contestant to win a million dollars will not be the only winner.