Sunshine pokie punters are losing more than three times as much as their counterparts in the more affluent eastern suburbs, a new study reveals.
Findings from an Australia Gambling Research Centre study show gambling is having a far greater impact on families in Sunshine and surrounding suburbs than those in the east.
In one case, gambling losses meant the family could not afford food for their children.
The study found that in a cluster of suburbs including Sunshine, Sunshine West and North, Ardeer, Albion and Braybrook, the annual average loss for each adult on poker machines was $1358, compared to just $400 for adults living in Box Hill and five surrounding suburbs.
The centre’s research fellow, Angela Rintoul, said the study focused on how place might affect gambling consumption.
“The study areas are similar in size and distance from the city, but we did find that when we looked at the number of pokies venues in each area, already we had an idea that the west might be differentially exposed,” she said.
Dr Rintoul said there were eight venues with poker machines in the Sunshine catchment, compared to just three in the Box Hill area.
“Sunshine has 407 machines, compared to 205 in Box Hill, so in the west that’s 10 machines to every 1000 adults, against four machines to every 1000 adults. So there’s a very different pattern of availability.”
Dr Rintoul said the study revealed the harm gambling caused in the west was far greater than in the east.
“Households in the west have a higher level of socio-economic disadvantage, whereas households in the east were around average,” she said.
“This magnifies the harm from gambling. For example, one gambler in the east said losses meant their family had to go without repairing the dishwasher for six months, while several gamblers in the west said gambling losses meant they literally could not afford food for their children.”
The study’s findings came just days before release of the latest figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, which reveal the local government areas with the highest gambling loses.
Brimbank is poised to remain the hardest-hit municipality in the state for the eighth consecutive financial year, with players having lost more than $131 million in the 11 months to May 30.
