Venues where Geelong pokies punters are losing the most money

One Geelong pub’s pokies swallowed almost $3.6m in gambler losses alone in the last six months of 2021, shocking figures have revealed. SEE THE LIST

A Grovedale pub’s pokies machines swallowed almost $3.6m in gambler losses in the last six months of 2021 despite Covid-19 restrictions, the latest figures have revealed.

The Grovedale Hotel has topped the latest list of Geelong region venues for pokies player losses from July 1, 2021 to December 31, raking in $3,567,621 – equivalent to almost $20,000 every day.

Recently released data from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) revealed where Geelong’s pokies punters lost the most money in the six month period, during which $42,454,429 was lost to the region’s electronic gaming machines.

More than $42m was lost to Geelong region pokies in the last six months of 2021.

More money was lost to Geelong’s pokies machines in the final half of 2021 than in any other Victorian municipality – largely due to the region’s size and escape from metropolitan Covid-19 restrictions.

The top five Geelong venues for player losses included The Grovedale Hotel ($3,567,621), Sphinx Entertainment Centre ($3,345,118), Lord of the Isles Tavern ($2,942,653), Geelong Combined Leagues Club, also known as Buckley’s, ($2,752,899) and the Norlane Hotel ($2,673,045).

SEE THE FULL LIST OF 26 LOCAL VENUES BELOW >>

The Grovedale Hotel website’s gaming section notes its commitment “to the wellbeing of its patrons, employees and the wider community in which it operates”.

“It strives to deliver all its services in a responsible and sustainable manner providing the means for our patrons to have informed choices and to exercise a rational and sensible informed choice based on their personal and individual circumstances.

“As part of this commitment, the venue has adopted a comprehensive Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct, and a Self-Exclusion Program, and will provide the necessary resources, both financial and human, to support the proper operation and fulfilment of the Code at these premises.”

VGCCC figures last week revealed gamblers lost $10.88m to the 1363 pokies machines in the City of Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe in December, making it the city’s fourth worst ever month for pokies losses – eclipsing only December 2008 ($11.328m), March 2021 ($11.056m) and August 2018 ($10.98m).

Three of the city’s five worst ever months for pokies losses were recorded in 2021, during the few months respite from Covid-19 restrictions.

Geelong council on Tuesday voted to allocate up to $30,000 to make a submission to the VGCCC opposing the Valley Inn Hotel’s application to increase its total electronic gaming machines from 29 to 39 – subject to a social and economic impact assessment opposing the application

The funding would support expert evidence and a barrister to present a city submission against the extra machines, the latest data showing the Valley Inn Hotel’s existing pokies machines swallowed $3.76m in player losses between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021 – including about $1m in the last six months of 2021.

City blames Cats for spate of new pokies bids

The City of Greater Geelong has voted to oppose an increase in the number of pokie machines at a Fyans Street hotel with one councillor blaming the Geelong Football Club for recent submissions.

The Valley Inn Hotel in South Geelong submitted plans to increase its number of pokie machines by 10 bringing the total to 39, but failed to receive the support of the city.

Councillor Anthony Aitken blamed the Geelong Football Club for its decision to onsell their licensing to the community.

“In an ideal situation we should be supporting the reduction of machines and Geelong Football Club should never have been given the opportunity to onsell licenses to operators,” he said.

A Geelong Football Club spokesman said they are proud to have exited the gaming industry.

“We work in conjunction with responsible gaming Victoria and are proud to assist in their messaging around gaming,” he said.

“Gaming applications of other entities have nothing to do with our club or our decision to exit gaming.”

Anthony Aitken blames Cats for recent pokies applications from other venues, after club’s decision to on-sell licences.

The Geelong region is the fourth highest spender on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Victoria, with community members spending almost $1.3m on the pokies at the Fyans Street hotel in the 2020/21 period.

While zero dollars was spent at pokies during tougher restrictions the number of losses in the region skyrocketed to $10.8m in one month.

Councillor Sarah Mansfield, Chair, Community Health and Aged Care portfolio said the sheer amount of money lost on the pokies across Greater Geelong was staggering, with the equivalent to half the annual council budget lost each year.

“On average 60 per cent of losses come from problem gamblers, that is people who face severe consequences as a result of their gambling,” she said.

A letter outlining the City’s intention to respond to the application has been sent to the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) who will have the final decision.

The City is preparing a social and economic impact assessment that will outline the levels of disadvantage, education and employment experienced in South Geelong and will allocate up to $30,000 for legal counsel dependent on the findings of the impact assessment.

The Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe regions currently have nearly 1,400 pokie machines in total, with the last four proposals to enhance these numbers rejected by council.

The community is invited to share their thoughts on the proposal by heading to the City of Greater Geelong’s Your Say Page before February 16, 2022.

Council mulls $30k gamble to fight pub’s pokies plan

Geelong council is poised to spend $30,000 fighting a local pub’s bid to add 10 extra pokies machines to its gaming room, just days after the region recorded its fourth highest month of pokies losses.

Councillors will on Tuesday vote to on a recommendation to allocate $30,000 to make a submission to the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) responding to the Valley Inn Hotel’s application to increase its total electronic gaming machines from 29 to 39.

The funding would be subject to a social and economic impact assessment opposing the application, and would fund expert evidence and a barrister to present a city submission against the extra machines.

Pokies are swallowing millions in player losses each year across Geelong

VGCCC data shows the Valley Inn Hotel’s existing pokies machines swallowed $3.76m in player losses between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021 – including about $1m in the last six months of 2021.

A city report noted the council had objected to the past four venue applications to boost pokies numbers, and had been successful on one occasion.

“The Waurn Ponds Hotel application was subsequently approved by the [Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation], the Clifton Springs Golf Club application was also approved, the Belmont RSL application was approved by the VCGLR and the Geelong Polish Club application was not approved by the VCGLR,” the city report noted.

The city vote will come after the latest VGCCC figures on Friday revealed gamblers lost $10.88m to the 1363 pokies machines in the City of Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe in December last year.

It was the city’s fourth worst ever month on record for pokies losses, eclipsing only December 2008 ($11.328m), March 2021 ($11.056m) and August 2018 ($10.98m).

Three of the city’s five worst ever months for pokies losses were recorded in 2021, during the few months respite from Covid-19 restrictions.

The major December losses in Geelong came shortly after Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello wrote open letters to the Victorian governments calling for a cautious approach to the post-lockdown reintroduction of pokies.

“The stress, exhaustion and frustration that people in Victoria and NSW are experiencing right now will inevitably lead to far too many people gambling when poker machines return, risking their livelihoods and mental health,” Mr Costello said.

“Research shows gambling increases in times of crisis.

“The NSW and Victorian governments owe a duty of care to their residents to not only protect them from Covid, but to effectively reduce the risks associated with gambling harm and help local economies bounce back.”

Originally published as Venues where Geelong pokies punters are losing the most money