By Tate Papworth
Brimbank council has introduced a radical new policy to minimise gambling harm.
Under the new policy, the council will charge clubs that operate poker machines on council land commercial rates and will seek limited term leases.
The St Albans Sports Club and Green Gully Soccer Club are the two affected clubs, but both would be eligible for rent discounts of up to 80 per cent if they implement gambling harm-minimisation measures.
Cr Virginia Tachos said the council will continue to lobby for regulatory reform.
“Council acknowledges that many clubs with EGMs also play an important social role – we want to work with current venue operators to reduce gambling harm,” Cr Tachos said.
“We understand that gambling is a legal form of entertainment that is also regulated at both a federal and state level – this council policy focuses on a public health response, reducing the potential harm and risks to our community.”
Brimbank has topped the list of money lost to EGMs for 10 consecutive years, with
$1.4 billion lost over the past decade.
In the past financial year, $139.5 million – or $382,000 a day – was lost on Brimbank EGMs.
Mayor Lucinda Congreve said the high losses were unacceptable.
“It is unacceptable that Brimbank continues to experience the highest electronic gambling machine – or EGM – losses in Victoria, particularly so when you consider that we are also home to some of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged communities.
“Through this policy – we will seek to reduce the harms that these losses inflict on our community.”
There are 953 EGMs in Brimbank – the maximum allowable under state regulations.
Brimbank’s new measures don’t go as far as the Darebin council, which has a policy to cut or decrease support provided to sporting or community groups if they operate or receive help from poker machine venues.
