POKER machine expenditure appears to be on the decline in Brimbank, new figures reveal.
Data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation shows $126.27 million was pumped through Brimbank pokies in 2012-13, compared to $145.61 million the previous year.
While the latest figures don’t include June results, Brimbank punters spend about $11 million a month – making it unlikely the full-year figures will exceed those for 2011-12.
Monash University’s Dr Charles Livingstone said the apparent decline in gaming revenue showed that incremental reforms – such as banning ATMs in pokies areas and reducing maximum betting from $10 to $5 – could reduce harm.
“If pokies expenditure in Brimbank is around $136 million in 2012-13, it still amounts to about $906 per year per adult – well above the Victorian average of $601 per adult per year,” he said.
“So there is plenty of improvement still to come before we can be relaxed about the amount of harm being inflicted on Brimbank by poker machine gambling.”
Dr Livingstone said there was often ‘‘some seasonal volatility’’ in monthly figures, which may account for part of the apparent decline.
Brimbank council’s electronic gambling policy outlines concerns about the detrimental effect of problem gambling on personal and community wellbeing. The policy supports a decrease in gaming machines in Brimbank, and advocates for the council to lobby the state government to reduce gaming machines.
