State annual pokies losses hit decade-high of $2.7 billion

VICTORIANS lost $2.7 billion on pokies in the last financial year — the biggest loss in a decade. And gamblers in the poorest areas lost the most.

VICTORIAN gamblers lost $2.7 billion on pokies in the last financial year, the biggest losses recorded in a decade.
The result was a jump of $91 million on last year’s figure and the biggest total since 2008-09.
The figure represents an average annual loss of $466 for every Victorian man, woman and child.

Epping Plaza Hotel was the venue which recorded the biggest loss by pokie players with $20.8 million — or $57,500 a day — gambled away at its 100 machines, the report by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation found.

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Four of the top 10 venues were located in the Whittlesea council area in Melbourne’s outer north, although the biggest total losses, of $139 million, were recorded in Brimbank, based in Sunshine.

Alliance for Gambling Reform director Tim Costello said softer regulation, passed by the state parliament last year, led to the spike.

Gamblers lost $20.8 million on the Epping Plaza Hotel pokies in 2017-18.

“Both of the major Victorian parties legislated for increased harm.’’

Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz claimed that the reforms had seen pokies expenditure “remain lower than they did almost a decade ago despite significant population growth and inflation”.

“We are freezing pokies numbers across the state, limiting daily cash withdrawals in venues and capping the number of pokies in areas most vulnerable to gambling harm,.’’ Ms Kairouz said.

The VCGLR data does not include losses from Crown casino’s 2700 machines.
Whittlesea Mayor Kris Pavlidis said residents in her council area were losing almost $300,000 a day.
“It’s the scourge on our community and it needs to be addressed,’’ Cr Pavlidis said.
Tighter regulation, such as shorter operating hours, needed to be considered, she said.
The figures from the state’s more than 400 venues come just three days after mayors from some of the worst-affected councils held a rally on the steps of parliament calling for pokies reform.

Hawthorn Football Club topped the ladder for losses at venues owned by AFL clubs with punters at Vegas at Waverley Gardens in Mulgrave and the West Waters Hotel in Caroline Springs losing $11 million and $13.3 million respectively.
Carlton ($18 million) and Collingwood ($13.2 million) and Essendon ($11.6 million) completed the top four.
Total losses from all clubs topped $97.5 million.
Collingwood has said it would exit the gaming business by October. The Melbourne Football Club is also severing links with or selling its own pokie venues.

Victoria’s 26,384 pokie machines generate more than $1 billion in taxes for the state government.

@IanRoyall