The effect of smoke-free policies on electronic gaming machine expenditure in Victoria, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of smoke-free policies in Victorian gambling venues on electronic gaming machine (EGM) expenditure.


METHODS
Monthly EGM expenditure from July 1998 to December 2005, provided by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation and the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner in South Australia, was analysed. The outcome measure was the ratio of monthly expenditure for Victoria to monthly expenditure in South Australia. Intervention analysis and autoregressive integrated moving average modelling were used to assess the impact of the smoke-free policy on expenditure.


RESULTS
The smoke-free policy resulted in an abrupt, long-term decrease in the level of EGM expenditure. The mean level of monthly expenditure decreased by approximately 14%.


CONCLUSIONS
The smoke-free policy not only protects hospitality workers and patrons from exposure to secondhand smoke but has also had an impact on slowing gambling losses.
Lal
A
A
VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, The Cancer Council Victoria, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. anita.lal@cancervic.org.au
Siahpush
M
M
D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000639:trends; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution