‘Dracula’ pokies draining pockets

THE state government has been tagged “Dracula in charge of the bloodbank” after pokie machines last month drained a record high $40m from the pockets of hardpressed Gold Coasters.

The $40,047,530 lost in July is by far the largest figure ever recorded on the Gold Coast, exceeding even the $37,594,214 sunk in July 2020 when gamblers rushed back to pokie palaces after a Covid-19 lockdown.

In July 2019, Gold Coasters lost $30,326,967 and $32,619,966 in July last year.

The record losses come as the city is gripped by a cost-ofliving crisis, with fuel, supermarket and housing prices soaring.

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Reverend Tim Costello said many people turned to gambling when under financial stress.

“Part of it is the wish, ‘maybe I might have a win, because I’m stuffed anyway’.

Rev Costello said the effect on families was devastating: “Twenty five per cent of domestic violence is contributed by gambling, mainly pokies. It’s kids going hungry. It’s rent or mortgage not being paid. It’s crime, because when you’re feeling hopeless you go and steal.”

The Queensland government raked in more than $800m in pokie revenue last year. But Rev Costello said that was “fool’s gold” because government services ultimately picked up the tab for the harm caused. “The state government have never commissioned an impact study into crime, into domestic violence, to financial trouble needing food relief, all correlated to gambling. They never commission that research because it’s such easy money for them, that they literally are Dracula in charge of the bloodbank.”

Griffith University researcher Dr Timo Dietrich said the gambling industry had become adept at marketing to young people, particularly the “blokey audience that’s watching sport”.

Attorney General Shannon Fentiman said the state government had an “ongoing commitment” to reducing the harm caused by gambling.

“Last year, we launched the Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan for Queensland, a fouryear plan aimed at preventing and minimising gambling harm. This includes conducting research on gambling prevalence and harm.

“In the latest budget, more than $3m over three years has been set aside towards a range of gambling harm research and minimisation initiatives such as the rollout of a Queensland Household Gambling Survey – the first since 2017 – which will gather vital information.

“We have a Bill before Parliament to strengthen and modernise gambling legislation, which includes a regulation making power-enabling gambling harm minimisation measures to be mandated.”