Gamblers have tipped more than $50 billion into Victoria’s poker machines since their introduction in 1992

VICTORIANS have spent an extraordinary amount on pokies - $50 BILLION since 1992. As calls mount for a crack down on the state’s addiction we reveal venues and suburbs most hooked. Is yours on the shame list?

It has been revealed Victorians have tipped $50 billion into poker machines since they were introduced in 1992.

EXCLUSIVE: GAMBLERS have tipped more than $50 billion into Victoria’s poker machines since their 1992 introduction, prompting calls for urgent reform.

The Andrews Government, which will pocket more than $1.1 billion in pokies tax revenue this year, is now facing calls to “repent” and crack down on the pokies.

The Herald Sun can reveal the money lost on Victoria’s 26,330 electronic gaming machines in the 24 years to last June 30 totals $50.7 billion.

The city of Monash, in Melbourne’s southeast, topped the list of municipalities losing the most: $2.42 billion.

It was followed by Brimbank ($2.40 billion) and Greater Dandenong ($2.25 billion).

Gambling groups are now calling for $1 spin limits and for a $120 cap on how much a player is able to lose in an hour.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Tim Costello said electronic gaming machines were Victoria’s “dirty little secret”.

“This is the moment for the Andrews Government to really repent,” he said.

City of Monash Mayor Cr Geoff Lake, pictured outside pokies venue, the Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone. Picture: Mark Stewart

“They have built into their budget more than a billion dollars of revenue over the next year.

“Labor must stand up against predatory pokies that are a con and produce addictions,” Mr Costello said.

Mr Costello said: “We have known the solution for many years, it is just that governments have been addicted to the revenue. This is what is evil — ignoring the suffering and the addiction.”

Maps of venues recording the highest pokies revenue shows a river of gold running from Melbourne’s northwest across the city and to the southeastern suburbs.

The Epping Plaza Hotel, which has generated $163.8 million since 1992, was one of four Whittlesea venues to make the top 10 list.

Others on the list include the Plough Hotel in Mill Park, the Gladstone Park Hotel, and the Werribee Plaza Tavern — all pocketing more than $140 million.

Monash mayor Geoff Lake slammed pokies corporations for “profiting from the misery of people in our community”.

“This $50 billion is such a monumental amount of money, disproportionately shouldered by those who can least afford it,” Cr Lake said.

“This is not an issue with the gambler who puts the money through the machines. This is an issue with governments who stand by and don’t regulate while big operators use machines to addict and get inside people’s heads.”

Pokies expenditure in Victoria peaked at $2.7 billion in 2008-09, when Tatts and Tabcorp lost their duopoly on the state’s lucrative pokies licences.

The city of Monash, in Melbourne’s southeast, topped the list of municipalities losing the most: $2.42 billion.

Despite a fall afterwards, the number of dollars being dropped in slots has grown steadily during the past three years.

But Community Clubs Victoria chief operating officer Neill Murray said that figure didn’t account for population growth.

He said clubs relied on pokies revenue to help society, through community programs, sports fields or new facilities, in “one way or another”.

“It is not money raised to be placed in personal bank accounts,” he said.

“We don’t want people in clubs who are spending money they can’t afford to spend. It would be terrible for them, and it wouldn’t be good for us.

“Clubs exist to help their communities and that is what they want to do.”

The government introduced a statewide precommitment system on gaming machines, called YourPlay, in December.

It is also reviewing its regulations before current gaming machine arrangements expire in 2022.

Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz said $150 million would be spent on tackling problem gambling during the next four years.

“Victoria already has the equal lowest maximum bet limit outside of casinos in Australia,” she said.

“While gambling is a legitimate industry, we will continue to take an evidence- based approach to addressing the harm caused by problem gambling.”

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TOP VENUES

Epping Plaza Hotel — $163.8m

Plough Hotel — $152.7m

Gladstone Park Hotel — $148.5m

Keysborough Hotel — $147.7m

Skyways Taverner — $145m

Bundoora Taverner — $144.9m

Werribee Plaza Tavern — $142m

Kealba Views Hotel — $139.2m

Seaford Taverner — $137.4m

Excelsior Hotel — $133.6m

WHERE MONEY IS SPENT

50 major hospitals ($1 billion each)

1850 secondary schools ($27 million each)

4160 primary schools ($12 million each)

3440 police stations ($14.5 million each)

2770 X’Trapolis suburban trains ($18 million each)

4 Melbourne Metro tunnels ($10.5 billion each)

Victoria’s debt twice ($18.6b)