Advocates have called for the ACT to bring in sweeping changes to address gambling across the territory.
The ACT Council of Social Services chief executive Emma Campbell said ACT poker machines were the most dangerous in the country, due to the wide accessibility of cash in the venues and lack of regulations on bet limits.
"Research shows that gambling harm affects 47,000 Canberrans and costs the Canberra community $214 million every year. It not only impacts the player but also the people they love the most," she said.
Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance co-chair Kate Seselja said ACT clubs needed to find new sources of revenue to reduce reliance on gambling income.
She called for the number of poker machines in the ACT to reduce to 2500 in the next five years, a daily cash limit of $250 in poker machines venues to be introduced and a bet limit of $1 on poker machines with a limit of $100.
Ms Seselja said people should not be able to access poker machines between 2am and 10am every day and called for venues to be required to commit to locking them down overnight.
"While we recognise the important role that community clubs play in Canberra, more needs to be done by clubs to identify revenue opportunities from sources other than gambling," she said.
When clubs closed down in the ACT due to the pandemic, it was a respite for many people, she said.
"For some people, the COVID-19 period provided a brief respite from electronic gaming machines," Ms Seselja said.
"As they reopen, more people than ever are at risk from gambling harm resulting from the economic and psychological pressures brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.
"Gambling Harm Awareness Week helps people to recognise the signs of gambling harm. This week should also remind the incoming government of its responsibility to tackle gambling harm in the ACT."
