Pokies horror month

Geelong punters lose $11m down slot in worst hit since 2008

GEELONG has posted its worst monthly pokies losses in almost a decade, dumping $10.67 million into the region’s machines in July.

The loss amounts to an average of $344,208 lost every day of the month.

The city has lost more in a single month only once previously, when pokies swallowed $11.33 million in December 2008.

The losses were revealed in the latest Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation statistics, coming one month after the city posted its second worst financial year loss of $118.8 million in 2017-18.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesman and director Tim Costello said Geelong’s losses were cause for concern.

“Geelong is suffering from pokies losses that are rising at almost double the state average,” Mr Costello said. “It is shocking to think that it is becoming common for losses to exceed $10 million in a single month.

“Across the state, losses have jumped by $81 million in the first seven months of 2018 to a record $1.562 billion, but in July alone the 7 per cent increase in Geelong was almost double the 3.9 per cent statewide increase.

“Increased losses mean rising harm, family violence, suicide, financial hardship and crime, which is particularly disturbing when you consider Geelong was the recent host of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation conference focusing on addressing gambling harm.”

The City of Greater Geelong has invited the community to have its say on an application from Geelong RSL to increase the number of pokies at the Belmont club.

The RSL has submitted an application to the VCGLR to increase the number of pokies from 42 to 72.

“The key objective of the city’s electronic gaming policy is to reduce the negative impacts of gambling and to ensure any decisions around gambling do not have a detrimental impact on our community,” acting director community life Fiona Reidy said.

“We’d encourage all community members and organisations to have their say on the application.”

Council will provide the VCGLR with a response to the application by October 9, with a public survey open until September 4, at geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay

An information session will be held at Belmont Library tomorrow from 11am-1pm.

“Geelong is suffering from pokies losses that are rising at almost double the state average.” GAMBLING REFORM ADVOCATE TIM COSTELLO