Abstract
The expansion of gambling industries worldwide is intertwined with the growing government dependence on gambling revenue for fiscal assignments. In Australia, electronic gaming machines (EGMs) have dominated recent gambling industry growth. As EGMs have proliferated, growing recognition has emerged that EGM distribution closely reflects levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. More machines are located in less advantaged regions. This paper analyses time-series socioeconomic distributions of EGMs in Melbourne, Australia, an immature EGM market, and then compares the findings with the mature market in Sydney. Similar findings in both cities suggest that market assignment of EGMs transcends differences in historical and legislative environments. This indicates that similar underlying structures are evident in both markets. Modelling the spatial structures of gambling markets provides an opportunity to identify regions most at risk of gambling related problems. Subsequently, policies can be formulated which ensure fiscal revenue from gambling can be better targeted towards regions likely to be most afflicted by excessive gambling-related problems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Abbot, M. W. and Volberg, R. A. (1996). The New Zealand national survey of problem and pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(2), 143–160.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1997). 1996 Census of Population and Housing, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1998). Information Paper: 1996 Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999). Gambling Industries Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2000). Taxation Revenue Australia. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Australian Institute of Gambling Research (1999). Australian Gambling Comparative History and Analysis. Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority, Melbourne.
Borg, M. O. and Mason, P. M. (1991). The incidence of taxes on casino gambling: exploiting the tired and poor. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 50(3), 323–43.
Doughney, J. and Kelleher, T. (1999). The Impact of Poker Machine Gambling on Low-Income Municipalities: A Critical Survey of Key Issues. Submission No. DR181 to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia's Gambling Industries, Productivity Commission, Canberra.
Eadington, W. R. (1995). Economic development and the introduction of casinos: myths and realities. In J. O'Conner (ed.), High Stakes in the 90s, Sixth National Conference of the National Association of Gambling Studies, Curtin University, Fremantle, 1–8.
Fisher, S. (2000). Measuring the prevalence of sector-specific problem gambling: a study of casino patrons. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16(1), 25–51.
Hansen, A. (1995). The tax incidence of the Colorado State Lottery instant game. Public Finance Quarterly, 23(3), 385–398.
Marshall, D. C. (1998). Missing the jackpot: the proliferation of gambling in Australia and its effect on local communities. Australian Geographical Studies, 36(3), 237–247.
Marshall, D. C. (1999). Adelaide's pokie geography: distribution of, and expenditure on, electronic gaming machines in Adelaide. South Australian Geographical Journal, 98, 19–29.
Marshall, D. C. and Baker, R. G. V. (2001a). Unfair odds? Factors influencing the distribution of electronic gaming machines in Melbourne. Urban Policy and Research, 19(1), 77–92.
Marshall, D. C. and Baker R. G. V. (2001b). Clubs, spades, diamonds and disadvantage, the geography of electronic gaming machines in Melbourne. Australian Geographical Studies, 39(1), 17–33.
National Opinion Research Centre, Gemini Research, The Lewin Group and Christiansen/Cummings Associates (1999). Gambling Impact and Behaviour Study: Final Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, University of Chicago.
Price, D. I. and Novak, E. S. (1999). The tax incidence of three Texas lottery games: regressivity, race and education. National Tax Journal, 52(4), 741–750.
Productivity Commission (1999). Australia's Gambling Industries, Report No. 10, AusInfo, Canberra.
State Government of New South Wales (1998). Complete Club and Hotel Listings. Department of Gaming and Racing, Sydney.
State Government of Victoria (2000). Responsible Gambling Consultation Paper, Department of Treasury and Finance, State of Victoria.
Tasmanian Gaming Commission (2000). Australian Gambling Statistics: 1973-74 to 1998-99, Centre for Regional Economic Analysis, University of Tasmania.
Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority (1999). Baseline database: yearly summary information.http://www.gambling.vcga.vic.gov.au
Volberg, R. A. (1996). Prevalence studies of problem gambling in the United States. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(2), 111–128.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marshall, D.C., Baker, R.G.V. The Evolving Market Structures of Gambling: Case Studies Modelling the Socioeconomic Assignment of Gaming Machines in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. J Gambl Stud 18, 273–291 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016847305942
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016847305942