Are Chinese gamblers the answer to our tourism woes? And at what cost? James Packer has set his sights on Asian gamblers. In a public pitch earlier this year, the billionaire businessman said middle class gamblers visiting from China could help reverse the fortunes of Australia’s struggling tourism industry. Is there anything wrong with targeting Asian gamblers? And are Australia’s local Asian communities vulnerable to that approach? Gambling addiction expert and psychiatrist Dr Timothy Fong says gambling is entrenched in Chinese culture, partly driven by a belief in luck and predetermined fate. Australian-Chinese businessmen say trips to the casino are a crucial part of doing business and networking with clients. But it’s not just the well-heeled and wealthy who are throwing big dollars around at crowded gaming tables in Australia’s casinos. One study shows that Chinese international students studying in Australia are particularly at risk of gambling problems. They arrive here with lump sums of money for their education and accommodation, are lonely and isolated, and are attracted to the glamour and liveliness of casinos - sometimes with disastrous results. Some international students are even ending up in casino’s VIP rooms. Dr Fong says the cultural taboo around problem gambling prevents people from seeking help. He says many addicts want to save face and are too ashamed to admit they have a problem.