THE "freight train" of online gambling may be having a significant effect on Wagga clubs' bottom line, according to one of the city's counsellors.
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Family Support Services gambling counsellor Robyn Preston said the more than $500,000 net revenue decrease year on year from poker machine income at Wagga's Rules Club and more than $300,000 net downturn at the city's RSL Club may be attributed to a shift to online gambling.
"I would have to say online gambling would possibly be the result of that, mainly because it's so accessible and in your face," she said.
"It appeals to the younger generation with smartphones and all that sort of stuff.
"You can just sit anywhere and do it."
Mrs Preston denied the revenue loss was due to a decrease in gambling generally.
"The gambling trend is not actually in a downturn; it's just shifted to somewhere else," she said.
"Online gambling has been building for a couple of years.
"I'm seeing that in the clients I'm seeing.
"Online gambling is like a freight train rolling along."
Rules Club general manager Jack Jolley didn't name one specific reason for the fall in takings, saying online gambling may be influencing the club's result.
"That's one of the factors that will contribute for sure," he said.
"We do know that gaming machine revenue is down across the Murrumbidgee zone," he said.
RSL general manager Andrew Bell blamed the decrease on tough economic times.
"Society is becoming a saving society as opposed to a credit society," he said.
Mr Bell said the club continued its strong vigilance of problem gamblers, but had not "upped the campaign at all".
Mrs Preston said she believed the clubs were addressing the issue of problem gambling adequately.
"The clubs are responsible and they are extremely supportive of gambling counselling," she said.
"They will direct them (problem gamblers) to me."
Mrs Preston said that five years ago one in 10 of her clients would have presented with an online gambling problem, but the figure had now risen to three in 10.