ATM access should be restricted at all gaming machine venues, the son of a Brimbank pokies addict believes.
In a submission to the state government’s current review of gaming machine arrangements, Nick said his retired father had lost more than $100,000 on pokies in the past year.
The inquiry has sought community views on current and future gaming machine arrangements in Victoria.
“Over the years he has wasted much more, but we were not aware of the extent of the gambling,” Nick wrote. “Over the past year, he would be withdrawing money from the ATM [at a hotel] every two to three days.
“Pokie venues should not have ATMs readily available on site. His bank statements will clearly show all his outgoings and withdrawals at local pokies venues.”
He said his father’s addiction had put a strain on their relationship.
“Poker machines cause so much damage to our community. These machines are designed to addict, fleecing Victorians and wrecking lives. I’m writing to the review to say enough is enough. It’s time to listen to voters like me, rather than the pokies industry.”
Community control
Nick called on the state government to “give communities back control”.
“Change the licensing laws so that local councils can act on community concerns and say no to applications for more poker machines.”
Brimbank council submitted to the inquiry that gaming venues that did not deliver on promised community benefits should be penalised or have their gaming licences revoked. It said laws needed to be strengthened to ensure community benefits were “genuine”.
“A proportion of community benefit should be allocated directly to harm reduction initiatives for problem gamblers,” the council submitted.
“Much of the gaming machine entitlements are held by large, multinational commercial entities not based in the local community, meaning the benefits are not always equitably distributed locally. Increasingly, some clubs are operating as commercial interests with little evidence of genuine community benefit.”
