Casey firm on pokies ban

CASEY council has launched a strategy reinforcing its stance against permitting more gaming machin
To mark Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, Casey mayor Shar Balmes launched the council’s Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) strategy on 25 May.
The event included a discussion of gaming and harm minimisation in Casey led by Melbourne University social researcher Bonni Rosen.
Councillor Balmes said the council’s vision for City of Casey was to create caring, safe, innovative and sustainable city and said the EGM strategy was a critical tool in achieving this vision.
“We felt it was essential to consult widely in developing this strategy,” Cr Balmes said.
“Input was gained from across the community and I feel that we have reached the right balance.”
The strategy includes the council’s preferred position that there be no further growth in the number of existing or already approved EGMs within Casey.
It also advocates that the State Government supports the introduction of a municipality-wide cap on the number of gaming machines and calls for greater transparency from the State Government in the allocation of the Community Support Fund to the City of Casey area.
The strategy requires significant community consultation before the council considers any gaming machine application. It does not support any further gaming machines on council-owned land, excluding any existing commitments agreed upon by the City of Casey.
A total of 899 electronic gaming machines operate in Casey.