By Oliver Lees
The total amount of money fed into electronic gambling machines in Melton has dropped since its peak three months ago, but new monthly data reveals the figure remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Latest data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation reveals that $6.5 million was lost at Melton’s seven gaming venues in January 2022.
In November 2021, the city recorded a $7.1 million spend on gambling machines, the highest monthly single month figure across all available records going back to 2005.
Three years prior in November 2018 gamblers spent $5.6 million.
Since July 2005, the number of gambling machines available to residents has more than doubled from 247 at four venues to 523 across seven.
Melton council community planning manager Elyse said it was important for residents to gamble responsibly and seek help if needed.
“Reducing harms from gambling has long been a priority for council,” Ms Rider said.
“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.
“The policy also recognises the potential harms of the normalising gambling behaviours and assists in advocacy programs for gambling harm reduction.”
The state record for gambling expenditure was broken in December 2021, when more than $250 million was fed into poker machines.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said this record “should never have been broken” and believes greater measures should be introduced to tackle problem gambling.
“Harm prevention measures like universal pre-commitment, reduced opening hours and abolishing losses disguised as wins would have a significant impact in reducing these losses and the harm felt in our state,” Mr Costello said.
“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.”
