Comment on gaming ‘ignorant’
A LEADING anti-gaming campaigner has criticised Clubs Victoria chief Richard Evans after he said Geelong’s increase in gaming expenditure was because of higher disposable incomes in the region.
Free Yourself Program founder Gabriela Byrne said Mr Evans was ignorant and might hold a different view if he met a problem gambler face to face.
‘‘Looking at the general demographic of Geelong and areas like Norlane, and to say that people in such areas have access to larger disposable incomes, is ridiculous,’’ Ms Byrne said.
Mr Evans’s comments came after a report released last week from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor highlighted that the total amount of money lost by players in the Geelong region per year had increased over the past decade.
‘‘All consumers make decisions about expenditure and it indicates to me that disposable incomes in the Geelong region are better than others,’’ Mr Evans said.
He said such figures were always tough to analyse because of other factors such as population increases and the number of machines.
Grant Boyd, chief executive officer of Geelong’s Bethany Community Support, which provides services for problem gamblers, said disposable incomes had nothing to do with the issue.
‘‘Disposable incomes in Geelong are below state average and the people who seek support are generally on lower incomes,’’ Mr Boyd said.
‘‘I wouldn’t associate disposable incomes with higher spending on gaming machines.’’
Figures show the total amount lost by players in the Geelong region for 2011-12 was more than $116 million, compared with almost $102 million lost in 2000-01.
Geelong’s figures have bucked the state trend, which fell 24 per cent over the past 10 years.