By Tate Papworth
Brimbank council is continuing its call for restrictions on gaming machines following a state government decision that will allow new machines in a neighbouring municipality.
State Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz last month announced new poker machine entitlements for 2022 onwards, including an extra 80 pokies across venues in Tarneit, Truganina and Point Cook.
This means Wyndham will go from having 903 machines to 983.
Brimbank is a capped region, meaning the number won’t move from the current 953 machines – but Cr Virginia Tachos said more needs to be done.
“We need this area to have a sinking cap,” Cr Tachos said. “If machines disappear from somewhere, they pop up somewhere else – we need the number to keep going down.
“We’re calling for $1 maximum bets and reduced hours of operation.
“It’s not an anti-gaming campaign – it’s about reducing the volume of money being lost, especially by problem gamblers.”
She urged community members to sign the Pokies Play Brimbank online petition. “So many people are suffering as a result of pokies addiction,” she said.
“The cost extends beyond the statistics and harms key aspects of life.”
The petition can be viewed at pokiesplaybrimbank.org.au
