$56 million poured into pokie machines in Hume in just six months

THE business case for the duplication of Craigieburn Rd could have been funded 224 times over with the money poured into pokies in Hume over the past six months.

Punters splurged $56,097,910 million on the pokies in Hume in the last six months of 2017.

THE business case for the duplication of Craigieburn Rd could have been funded 224 times over with the money poured into pokies in Hume over the past six months.

Punters splurged $56,097,910 million on the pokies in the last six months of 2017, according to new Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation statistics.

The Gladstone Park Hotel raked in the most with $9.1 million from its 86 machines.

The Roxburgh Park Hotel made $8.8 million; Sylvania Hotel, $5.4 million; Highlands Hotel, $5.1 million; Meadow Inn Hotel, $5 million; and Coolaroo Taverner, $3.1 million.

Pubs and clubs in Hume reaped $64,237 more on the machines compared with July-December 2016.

RELATED: Hume punters splash $105 million on pokie machines

Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesman Tim Costello said the alliance was writing to venues in Hume requesting they reduce their licences as part of the 20 year licence renewal process which closes on February 28.

Mr Costello said Hume was one of the 10 worst hit council areas in Victoria for pokie losses.

“It is very disappointing to see losses in Hume still on the rise when Australians are already the world’s biggest gamblers per capita and pokies comprise $12 billion of the $24 billion annual loss,” he said.

Mr Costello is calling for $1 maximum bets, reduced trading hours, machine numbers and venues, a $200 limit on daily cash withdrawals and no move to cashless gaming.

The Leader reported in September that Hume would get tougher pokie restrictions under a full regional cap set at 851 gaming machines.

It had a partial cap of 435 machines covering a handful of suburbs.

On top of extending the caps, the State Government recently introduced a raft of measures including EFTPOS cash withdrawals limited to $500 within a 24-hour period and banning the cashing of cheques at gaming venues.

Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Marlene Kairouz said the changes were about protecting people and helping those who choose to gamble stick to their limits.