An estimated 400 Australians with gambling-related problems commit suicide every year.
More than half of the $23 billion that local punters gambled away last year was sunk into slot machines. While most countries restrict gambling to casinos and betting shops, Australia permits it in hotels, sports clubs and RSLs.
The gambling industry is a major donor to lawmakers and the Coalition government, and previous attempts at reform have failed.
States and territories reaped $5.8 billion in taxes from gambling in the year through June 2015, easing the pressure on the Turnbull government as it is presiding over a fragile AAA credit rating and a budget hole.
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