By Brendan Rees
Casey punters missed the jackpot last year with the latest figures showing they lost $131.9 million to electronic gaming machines – which has been labelled a “shame“ and “breaking families.“
The latest figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation revealed the Berwick Springs Hotel, which is owned by Zagames, was one of the worst in the state with players losing $19.6 million.
Hampton Park Tavern recorded $13.7 million while $6.5 million was spent at Amstel Club in Cranbourne.
Kerry Jose of the Cranbourne Salvation Army branch said gambling related harm was “without a doubt” impacting household budgets.
“Once they start, they keep going until there’s nothing left … a lot don’t see it as a problem,” she said.
She said many people spent all their rent money on pokies and got behind with other bills.
“They’ve got to come to services like us to give them food to survive,” Ms Jose said.
The losses for the year were slightly lower than $134 million losses recorded in 2018. Almost $12 million in losses were recorded in Casey in December – up $279,643.15 on the December 2018 figures.
Casey Council was contacted for comment but due to deadline, was unable to respond in time. However, last year Casey Council said it wanted the State Government to extend a cap on the number of electronic gaming machines (EGM) on the municipality, adding a city-wide cap would “provide certainty to the remaining parts of Casey to keep the EGM density consistent across the municipality.”
Bad Bets Australia spokesman Rowan Winn said the problem was not being addressed with the total losses representing “pain and suffering.”
“That fact is the figures aren’t going down,” Mr Wenn said.
He said he was astounded the gambling industry was regulated by the State Government and yet “it’s allowed to do this level of harm.”
“It’s not good enough for politicians to say ‘it’s just money that’s lost.’
“If this isn’t an alarm bell I don’t know what is. The impact of these figures is getting less and less because we’re getting used to it but we should be outraged by this,” Mr Wenn said.
Alliance for Gambling Reform director and spokesman Tim Costello said poker machines led to the loss of “much more than money” – and was especially concerned about a proposal by Castellos for 100 poker machines in Clyde North.
“I’m pleased to hear the Casey Council has decided to lodge an objection to the application with the Commission,” Mr Costello said.
He said if the additional pokies machines were approved, it “would undoubtedly” increase gambling harm in Casey and further damage the local economy.
“Estimates are that those 100 machines could take an extra $4 million from the Casey community in their first year of operation alone,” Mr Costello said.
Mr Costello said on average, Victorian adults lost $530 on the pokies in 2019.
“When you consider the majority of Victorians don’t gamble on poker machines, that means there are some people losing tens of thousands of dollars a year to these dreaded machines of addiction,” he said.
“Pokies dens are designed to fleece people regardless of socio-economic background or geography.”
