Hume punters splash $105 million on pokie machines

MONEY poured into Hume pokie machines this past financial year could have funded the Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre three times over.

THE amount of money poured into Hume pokie machines in the past financial year could have funded the Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre three times over.

Punters plunged $105.7 million or $289,770 a day on average into pokies in 2016-17, according to new Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation statistics.

Hume was the seventh-highest area for gambling losses in Victoria, with two venues in the top 20.

The Gladstone Park Hotel was the second-biggest pokies earner in the state, raking in $18.3 million from its 86 machines. The Roxburgh Park Hotel was the 12th highest, taking $15.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Meadow Inn Hotel brought in $10.9 million; Sylvania Hotel, $10.3 million; Craigieburn Sporting Club, $9.3 million; and the Highlands Hotel, $8.8 million.

But pubs and clubs in Hume reaped $277,343 less on the pokies compared with the 2015-16 year.

Victorian InterChurch Gambling Taskforce chairman Mark Zirnsak said while research showed fewer people were playing the pokies, those who ­continued to gamble were losing more.

Mr Zirnsak said disadvantaged areas would continue to suffer the most from gambling addiction because that’s where operators preyed.

“They will target whatever area makes them the most money,” he said.

“It’s the community that picks up the costs from the harm and the consequences are increased mental-health issues, it drives up crime such as fraud, more people lose their homes, relationships break down and it does have an impact on family violence.”

In May, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation approved an extra 20 machines at the Highlands Hotel despite Hume Council’s objections.

Mr Zirnsak said the power to make decisions should rest with local government.

Hume planning and development director Kelvin Walsh said the council had made a strong commitment to work with partner agencies and other local councils to minimise the impacts on communities such as providing alternative places and activities to pokie venues.