Darebin gaming machines spending falls as Victoria nears record high

Gamblers are pumping more than $220,000 every day into Darebin poker machines. And spending across the state was only slightly lower than the all-time Victorian record.

Darebin gamblers spent more than $81 million in the last financial year on pokies.

Gamblers are pumping $223,496 a day into Darebin poker machines, the latest pokies data reveals.

The total spend over the 2018/19 financial year was $81,576,110.

This was $553,498 less than the previous year but spending was up $3.5 million across Victoria.

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Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said many gamblers were the ones who could least afford to lose money to gambling.

“We know gambling is a major driver of household debt and contributor to family violence,” she said.

“We need stronger regulations from the State Government to protect our community from the harm caused from these insidious machines.”

Reverend Tim Costello says gambling needs to be treated as a public health issue.

Darebin has 744 registered poker machines spread across 12 venues.

Zagame’s Reservoir took in $13,251,226 from its 100 poker machines, the most of any venue in Darebin.

Last December, Darebin Council introduced an electronic gaming machine policy, outlining a number of initiatives to reduce gambling harm in the community.

This included denying any community group, organisation or sports club operating or owning EGMs from receiving any council financial assistance or venue hire.

Preston state Labor MP Robin Scott said the Andrews Labor Government had introduced a number of initiatives to tackle problem gambling.

“We’ve frozen pokies numbers across the state, limited daily cash withdrawals in venues and capped the number of pokies in areas most vulnerable to gambling harm,” he said.

Mr Scott said once population growth and inflation were taken into account, pokies expenditure had decreased from 2017 to 2018.

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Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesman Tim Costello said gambling should be treated as a public health issue, like cigarette smoking.

Zagames Corporation was contacted for comment.

DAREBIN POKIES VENUES 2018/19FY SPEND

Edwardes Lake Hotel — $13,251,226

Summerhill Hotel — $11,426,171

Olympic Hotel — $10,435,326

Cramers Hotel — $10,009,547

Junction Hotel — $6,158,223

Albion Charles Hotel — $5,619,528

Rose Shamrock and Thistle Hotel — $5,192,480

Croxton Park Hotel — $5,173,157

Darebin RSL — $4,705,966

Reservoir RSL — $4,465,582

Preston Hotel — $4,456,562

Furlan Club — $682,342

@richardapearce