Melton has bucked a regional trend, with its pokies losses decreasing last year.
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data reveals that a total of $53.8 million was lost across Melton’s seven venues and 493 machines in 2013 – down from $55.5 million in 2012.
Patrons at Melton’s Macs Hotel lost the most money, with $10.6 million pumped into the venue’s 82 machines, while $8.3 million was lost at the Golden Fleece Hotel in Melton.
While losses decreased in Melton, they were up in Moorabool, Wyndham and Brimbank.
In Moorabool, $8 million was lost on the shire’s 110 electronic gaming machines, with nearly $4 million being pumped into pokies at the Court House Hotel in Bacchus Marsh.
Brimbank had the highest losses in the state with more than $128 million lost on its pokies last year.
Wyndham had the seventh-worst loss: $90.15 million.
The new figures come as the Greens call for spending limits on pokies.
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the party was drafting a bill to introduce $1 limits on all machines.
‘‘Evidence of five trials across Australia shows that voluntary pre-commitment will not limit the harm of problem gambling,’’ Ms Hartland said.
“And 88 per cent of recreational gamblers don’t bet more than $1 a spin, so most punters won’t even notice the change.’’
HealthWest project manager James Dunne said problem gambling was on the rise and there was a need to remove pokies from where people lived to make it more difficult to gamble.
“Research suggests the location and ease that pokies can be accessed increases the risks of people experiencing gambling-related harm,” he said.
“These people might not be defined as problem gamblers. But they’re still likely to experience many of the negative impacts of problem gambling, such as financial troubles, anxiety, stress and relationship issues.”
