Slot machines linked to higher rates of domestic violence: Aust'n research

Australian suburbs with more slot machines - or "poker machines" - are more likely to have higher rates of domestic violence, according to Australian research.

Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) compared slot machine density with domestic violence data over a nine-year span, and found that areas with fewer or no slot machines had 20 percent fewer family violence incidents and 30 percent fewer domestic violence assaults compared to zip codes with the machines.

The team said while they can not make "strong claims" about a concrete connection between the two, the link was "stronger than expected".

"What we can say is there is more police-recorded violence in areas with more poker machines," the team told The Conversation on Friday.

The team said previous studies indicated that more than half of all Australians who sought out treatment for gambling addiction had also been involved in either side of domestic violence, and added that lawmakers should be wary about granting gambling licenses without first considering the impact it may have on the number of domestic violence cases in Australia.

"What is clear is that more poker machines in an area generally leads to more gambling and more problem gambling. And, as previous research suggests, a very substantial proportion of problem gamblers come to be involved in abusive relationships," the research team said.

"As such, our study suggests domestic violence impacts should be considered when regulators make decisions about granting licenses for poker machines.

"It appears poker machines may be part of the mix (of causes of domestic violence) in Australia." Endit