Brimbank residents can’t afford to keep losing big on poker machines, advocacy group Lead West has warned.
New data reveals Brimbank is Victoria’s leading loser on gaming machines. Its loss was more than $130 million in the 11 months to the end of May, the next highest loser was Casey with $109.8 million.
Brimbank has been the state’s biggest loser for the past seven consecutive years, and in Melbourne’s west over the 11 months it exceeded the second-worst, Wyndham, by almost $50 million.
The city is now an outside chance to record its biggest poker machine loss since its historic $145.6million figure three years ago.
The largest losses were recorded at Kealba Hotel – $9.3 million between July and December last year.
Lead West chief executive Craig Rowley described this year’s figures as “sad and very unhealthy”.
“The communities of Brimbank really cannot afford to lose millions of dollars on the pokies,” he said.
Lead West wants to see state government strengthen local governments’ authority and power over gaming venues.
“It should be the case that pokie licence applications do not proceed through any Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation approval process without prior approval by the relevant local government,” he said. “Brimbank council does have a sensible policy and it does what it can.”
Mr Rowley said money lost on pokies was most likely the result of a few thousand people losing a lot of money every week, rather than tens of thousands of punters losing just a few dollars each.
“The money lost on the pokies could be better spent on more durable goods and quality services from local businesses employing local people,” he said. “That way, the money cycles through the local economy in a more positive way. It could help local businesses grow and put more locals into jobs.”
Brimbank has 946 electronic gaming machines, the fourth-highest number for any local government area in the state.
