Gamblers lost more than $10.9 million into poker machines in Greater Geelong in March 2022, new data reveals.
According to Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) data, $10,956,104 was spent on electronic gaming machines (EGM) in Greater Geelong in March.
The March data for Geelong is also more than $1.6 million higher than the amount spend on poker machines in the city in February.
In the first nine months of 2021-22, gamblers have spent more than $72.6 million at EGMs in Geelong.
Geelong council community health and aged care deputy chair Belinda Moloney said Greater Geelong chief executive Martin Cutter wrote to Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne in February 2022 regarding the council’s EGM cap.
“The letter requested that the minister consider undertaking a review of the regional cap on electronic gaming machines in Greater Geelong and Queenscliff, with a view to reduce the number of allowable electronic gaming machines,” she said.
“The regional cap allows for 1421 electronic gaming machines in the region and our current allocation is 1378.”
Cr Moloney said the VGCCC statistics have reflected that gambling losses have returned to the levels seen prior to the Covid pandemic.
“Problem gambling brings significant social and economic costs, including family breakdowns, mental health problems and financial stress,” she said.
“We are currently reviewing public feedback on our Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy and an updated draft will be presented at a future council meeting.
“The new draft policy aims to balance the right to entertainment with the overarching need to promote community health and wellbeing.”
Monash University school of public health and preventive medicine associate professor Charles Livingstone said pokie spending had increased across the country following the pandemic lockdowns.
“This can be attributed to people having some money saved and wanting to get out,” he said.
“Pokie gambling can be associated with social and economic stress and many people are experiencing considerable stress at the moment, with insecure work, declining real wages, and intermittent COVID spikes, etc.
“Pokies are also distributed very disproportionately in disadvantaged communities, which are experiencing the worst of these stresses, so increased spending is understandable, if worrying.”
