MELTON punters could match last year’s massive poker machine losses, with $44 million already spent this financial year.
New figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation were released during Responsible Gambling Week (May 20-26).
A total of $56.5 million was spent on Melton pokies in 2011-12. The figures reveal $6 million has been spent in Moorabool so far this year.
Melton community planning manager Adam Boyle said the council was aware of the latest data.
The council has taken a firm stance against extra machines in the municipality, rejecting an application for new machines just last month.
Mr Boyle said the VCGLR would consider an application for an extra 20 machines at a Melton venue, which the council had not supported.
“Council provides direct assistance to problem gamblers and their families through a range of counselling and support services, in addition to working co-operatively with Health West, Gamblers Help, ISIS Primary Care and venue operators to educate the community about responsible gambling,” he said.
Last week, the council hosted a forum for young people and their families that included speakers from Gamblers Anonymous.
Monash University lecturer Charles Livingstone said poker machines were having a considerable impact on communities and council-supported services in the west.
He called for legislation to be changed so that maximum bets at gaming machines were reduced from $5 to $1. ‘‘This would cut excessive losses on gaming machines and could cut losses per hour from $600 to $100,’’ Dr Livingstone said.
‘‘By bringing down the maximum bet, you are reducing the harm of the machines.
“It is the single most effective way to reduce losses.
‘‘But the difficulty with passing legislation like that would be that the revenue the state government and owners of the machines receive decreases dramatically as a result.’’
