The closure of the casino could have helped people kick their gambling habit according to the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Chief Advocate Reverend Tim Costello told Mark Gibson around $2 billion has been saved from being fed into the pokies and thrown onto the gaming tables during the coronavirus shutdown.

“It’s one of the few silver linings of this terrible virus,” said Rev Costello.

“Although it’s not an economic savings story, it’s actually lives saved.

“It means money for food on the table, people are telling me they’ve paid their rent on time and people aren’t tempted to do crime.”

PIC: Getty Images

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