Where Victorians funnelled billions into the pokies despite cost of living crisis

Desperate Victorians and ambitious punters alike lose big on the pokies to the tune of about $3bn each year. These are the areas where gamblers are losing the most.

Victoria gamblers are set to lose more than $3bn on the pokies this year, despite household budgets being under stress from cost-of-living pressures.

Residents in some of the poorest suburbs in Melbourne continue to lose the most money, according to the latest figures released by the state’s gambling regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

According to the data, Brimbank residents lost more than $171m on pokie machines during the 12 month period, the highest of any local government area.

Gamblers in other parts of the western suburbs also ranked near the top of the list, with Wyndham and Melton losing $123m and $87m respectively.

Melton shire residents lost the most money per pokie machine.

Melton’s 523 pokies machines each generated more than $1.2m in losses for gamblers last year.

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Reverend Tim Costello said the “predatory machines” were hurting people in the poorest areas of Victoria.

“It’s just obscene that during a cost of living crisis Victorians are still losing billions of dollars to these highly addictive machines,” he said.

“People are struggling to pay rent, they are feeling hopeless and see a win at the pokies as their only chance.

“It is causing far greater pain for the Victorians doing it the hardest.”

Rev Costello slammed the “simply evil” clubs and venues that were “preying on vulnerable Victorians”.

Venues in Melton, Whittlesea, Casey and Brimbank on average each raked in more than $10m from punters losing big on the machines.

“People need to know the machines are built for addiction,” Rev Costello said.

“Once you are in front of that machine you are hypnotised and just keep feeding it.

“They are rigged for people to lose.”

Rev Costello said there had been a solution to help gamblers but it had been ignored by policy makers.

“A state wide cashless card helps people set a limit when they are sober and before they start,” he said.

“By not implementing this solution governments are allowing the social damage and harm to continue in our communities.”

A Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission spokesman said total pokies losses in Victoria decreased slightly in 2023 but had increased again in 2024.

“Losses in the 2023-24 financial year will be almost identical to 2022-23 period, just over $3 billion,” they said.

“Data from the past three years indicate that cost of living pressures have not had an impact on the total amount of money spent and lost by Victorians on pokies.

“However, pokies losses are rising under worsening cost-of-living conditions means the depth of harm incurred by users is also likely worsening.”