Australia - Gambling at the post office? You bet

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The Queensland Council of Social Service has expressed concern over possible plans to expand access to Tabcorp gambling accounts into government-owned Australia Post offices around Queensland.

The deal between Tabcorp and Australia Post, which allowed the 330,000 gamblers with Tabcorp betting accounts to access them via Australia Post offices, had already been approved for every state and territory in Australia except Queensland.

Queensland post offices were not offering the service, because the gambling regulator had not given its approval, but it was expected to allow the service next year.

A QCOSS spokeswoman told brisbanetimes.com.au that the expansion of access to gambling accounts was worrying.

"We consider any move that makes gambling more convenient a backward step in the fight against the harm caused (by gambling)," she said.

The spokeswoman said the organization advocated for the removal of mechanisms that make gambling easy, including the removal of ATMs from Queensland gaming venues.

"There are 14,000 problem gamblers in Queensland, and around 100,000 friends and family members who are hit by the effects of problem gambling, such as depression, suicide, financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns and health problems," she said.

Anti-gambling campaigner and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon said yesterday Australia Post's decision to become involved made it ''complicit'' in increasing problem gambling.

Senator Xenophon said the partnership between the gambling organisation and the government-owned Australia Post would make it easier for Australians to get themselves into serious debt due to gambling addiction.

However, Australia Post said the move was simply an extension of other services Australia Post offered, such as banking and passports.

Comment is being sought from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.