Pokies more addictive than ice says Self Help Addiction Resource Centre head
AN ADDICTION specialist has called for more support for families being ripped apart by problem gambling, as authorities struggle to contain skyrocketing pokie losses across the state.
Inner South
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AN ADDICTION specialist has slammed pokies as “more addictive than ice”.
As the latest statistics reveal Victorian punters are pouring more than $7 million a day into pokie machines, Self Help Addiction Resource Centre’s Anglea Ireland said problem gambling was destroying families.
A total $2,609,530,063 was blown on pokies statewide last financial year, including $83 million in Kingston, which has 16 pokie venues.
Kingston was among regions recording their biggest pokie losses in a decade.
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Brimbank topped the list, with a staggering $134,609,063 million lost on pokies.
“I used to work in drug addiction and I thought ice was the biggest problem a family could face. I was wrong,” Ms Ireland said.
“Gambling is so much worse and poker machines are at the core of that.”
Last year SHARC ran a pilot support program for families of problem gamblers and Ms Ireland wants it rolled out across Victoria.
Kon Tzagaris, who attended the program, has spent 20 years dealing with a gambling addict. He said poker machines had caused his family to implode.
“It’s not just the person with the problem that’s affected,” he said.
“It’s the partners and the children who are left with nothing and have to pick up the pieces.”
Mr Tzagaris said the first he knew about his family member’s problem was when they admitted to losing $15,000.
“We had bought a property that was for our retirement. We had to sell that.”
Over the years he sold other investment properties and his business suffered as he struggled to cover the gambling losses.
The father-of-four said at one point jewellery and about $4000 saved by his children went missing from the family home.
A short film featuring MrTzagaris’ story will be shown this week as part of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Gambling Harm Conference.
Alliance for Gambling Reform director Tim Costello called on St Kilda FC to drop pokies from its Moorabbin venue and on the Dingley International to stop trading the maximum of 20 hours a day.
“The Dingley International was again the most harmful venue in Kingston, lifting overall losses from $14.83 million in 2016-17 to $15.49 million in 2017-18,” he said.
“Having already made so much from gamblers, the owners should stop thrashing the addictive machines so hard given the harm they cause.”
Get help on 9575 5353 or connecthealth.org.au/gambling-help
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