Focus on gaming dangers

TACKLING the negative impacts of gambling in Casey will be the focus of a strategy to be launched next week.
To mark responsible gaming awareness week, which runs from 23 to 29 May, City of Casey mayor Shar Balmes will launch council’s Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) strategy on 25 May.
The key themes for the week are balance, knowledge and control.
The launch will feature a discussion of gaming and harm minimisation in Casey led by Melbourne University Social Researcher Bonnie Rosen.
Cr Shar Balmes said the council thought it was essential to consult widely in developing this strategy.
“Input was gained from across the community and I feel that we have reached the right balance,” she said.
“The City of Casey acknowledges the economic and recreational functions of all forms of gambling in the local community, but also recognises that a significant number of people gamble excessively and as a result experience personal, family and financial problems,”
Key aspects of the strategy include:
-Council’s preferred position for no further growth in the number of existing or already approved EGM’s within Casey
-Calls to the State Government to support the introduction of a municipal-wide cap on the number of gaming machines
-Calls for greater transparency from the State Government in the allocation of the Community Support Fund to the City of Casey area.
-Calls for significant community consultation before council considers any gaming machine application, and council in making a decision must consider the views of the community.
The strategy does not support any further gaming machines on council owned-land (excluding any existing commitments agreed upon by the City of Casey).
There are 899 electronic gaming machines operating in the City of Casey.
A full copy of the Electronic Gaming Machine Strategy can be accessed at www.acsey.vic.gov.au/policiesstrategies