So much for the cost of living crisis, people appear to be gambling like never before.

New data from the Department of Internal affairs shows gaming machine profits increased from $193 million dollars in the first quarter of this year to $276 million by the third.

Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude told Tim Dower it causes significant harm.

She says they're rapidly approaching nearly a billion dollars being lost from gambling, which is often coming from the country's poorest communities.

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