BRIMBANK punters are losing almost $350,000 a day, new figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation reveal.
Figures released last week show Brimbank residents have already lost more than $103.8 million this financial year compared with last year’s total of $145.6 million.
The amount was the highest in the western suburbs, ahead of Wyndham’s $65.7 million, Maribyrnong’s $40 million and Hobsons Bay’s $36.5 million.
Melton punters have lost $40.6 million compared with last year’s $56.5 million. The figures arrived during Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (May 20- 26).
Brimbank has almost 980 electronic gaming machines.
Monash University lecturer Dr Charles Livingstone said poker machines were having a considerable impact on communities and council-supported services in the west.
He called for a change in legislation to reduce maximum bets at gaming machines from $5 to $1.
‘‘This would cut excessive losses on gaming machines and could cut losses per hour from $600 to $100,’’ he said.
‘‘By bringing down the maximum bet, you are reducing the harm of the machines. It is the single most effective way to reduce losses. But the difficulty with passing legislation like that would be that the revenue the state government and owners of the machines receive decreases dramatically.’’
Dr Livingstone said that while education programs were helpful, they needed to be used alongside tools and support services to help people deal with problem gambling.
‘‘What is most helpful for problem gambling is changing the circumstances people find themselves in,’’ he said.
‘‘The accessibility of dangerous gaming machines is far too high. You can go to any pub in the west and spend unprecedented amounts of money. Toughening the legislation, reducing the number of machines and the money people spend in them, along with education programs, is the most effective way.’’
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.
Melton Council community planning manager Adam Boyle said the council continued to work on harm minimisation strategies.
He said the council was working with Health West, Gambler’s Help, ISIS Primary Care and venue operators to educate the community about responsible gambling.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation was considering an application for 20 new pokies at a Melton venue. Mr Boyle said council had opposed this.
