By Olivia Condous
Gambling throughout the western suburbs is on the rise and continues to be a pressing issue for many communities, including Melton.
The latest data from the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation showed that the monthly amount lost by those using poker machines at local Melton venues rose to more than $7.2 million in March this year.
This is an increase of more than $600,000 from March 2021 and more than $1.9 million from 2019.
The total amount lost to gambling in Melton for the current financial year is $20,207,518.
The gambling losses come from seven local Melton venues that host poker machines, with Mac’s Hotel, West Waters Hotel and Sugar Gum Hotel having the highest amount lost in the current financial year.
City of Melton community planning manager Elyse Rider said reducing the harms from gambling was a priority for the council.
“Council’s gambling harm prevention and reduction policy aims to address gambling related harms by setting limits on gambling product design, placement and marketing, assessing the location of new gambling establishments, limiting minors’ exposure to gaming floors, and more,” Ms Rider said.
According to the Alliance for Gambling Reform, the total gambling loss in Victoria for the month of March this year was $257.3 million.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said the March losses added to a total of almost $1 billion dollars lost to gambling in Victoria so far.
“Many of the LGAs with the highest losses are also some of the most stressed communities,” Mr Costello said.
“It’s clear that the industry’s business model is built upon exploiting the most vulnerable among us to inflate their profits,”
Mr Costello said further harm reduction measures were needed to stop industry “bigwigs” from turning local pubs and clubs into “mini-casinos”.
“We also need well-resourced educational campaigns aimed at bringing awareness to this ongoing crisis, if we are to successfully reduce the harm being caused by poker machines we need to bring the community along with us.”
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is partially funded by 22 Victorian local governments. The City of Melton does not contribute any funding.
