Social isolation and the “absolute denial” of pokies addicts is underpinning Brimbank’s reputation as the state’s leading loser to pokies, according to Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins..
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation’s half-yearly statistics show Brimbank lost $75million on pokies for the year to December, followed by Casey ($64.1million).
Star Weekly revealed last October that Brimbank had been the state’s leading loser for poker machines over the past eight years. Brimbank also had two venues with some of the highest player losses in the state, with Kealba Hotel ($9.451million) fourth and Taylors Lakes Family Hotel ($8.178million) in twelfth position.
Ms Hutchins said social isolation was a root cause, and she called for greater transparency in the way poker machine profits were invested in communities.
“I’m not sure community members know where that money is going, necessarily,” she said. “I’d like to see a bit more transparent framework for that.”
‘Absolute denial’
She said many problem gamblers who came to her office were in “absolute denial”.
“I have spoken to lots of families. None of them come to see you about gambling being the problem,” she said.
“They come and see you because they’ve got a sheriff at their door, Citylink tolls they haven’t paid. They don’t come to you and say their family is struggling with a gambling problem.
“They tell you after the fact. One common theme I get out of every family I talk to about struggling with gambling is isolation … absolute denial also.
“They feel disconnected and isolated; they’ve obviously got an addictive nature. It provides some relief from isolation. I think that’s a real problem. It surprises me how many people are on the pokies during the day,” Ms Hutchins said.
“People who have retired or had their hours cut back at work, they seem to be really vulnerable.
