New analysis describes gambling as Western Sydney's 'silent epidemic'. It's an issue that nearly cost Paul everything.
He said "alarmingly" a high percentage of losses are sustained in a small number of places, like Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Cumberland local government areas which have more than 11,200 pokie machines combined.
But change won't come easy, with the state government receiving billions every year in tax revenue from clubs and pubs, ClubsNSW fiercely campaigning against reform and a lack of bipartisanship. It said its 69 clubs in Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, and Cumberland LGAs generate $300 million in both state government taxes and ClubGrants tax rebates.
As politicians debate their next move, community groups in Western Sydney are fighting gambling addiction on the ground. "It doesn't matter what time of the day it is, whether it's five o'clock in the morning or whatever time, I can find a poker machine to play and anything that restricts that cannot be a bad thing."
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