Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon says the online gambling boom in Sydney and Melbourne is “of concern”, however is not “our number one priority”.
According to concerning statistics online gambling in the two major cities was up as high as 329 per cent above normal levels during the recent lockdowns; higher than last year.
“So lets not use this as an opportunity to go harder on gambling; problem gambling is a real challenge for us as a society and government has a role to play,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“But thank goodness people who have been locked down have had a number of things to keep them sane.
“Most gamblers are responsible gambling but I hope we don’t see some excessive overreaction to, what I think in the scheme of things, during the COVID period, is not our number one priority.”
