Victorians spent $2.7b on pokies: report

24 Jul 2009, 3:19 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Victorians spent a record $2.7 billion on poker machines last year and the state government has been accused of not doing enough to combat problem gambling.

Victorians spent a record $2.7 billion on poker machines last year and the state government has been accused of not doing enough to combat problem gambling.

Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) figures released on Friday show spending on pokies in hotels and clubs rose 1.7 per cent to $649 per adult in the 2008/09 financial year for a total increase of $96 million on the previous year.

The state opposition says premier John Brumby is addicted to gambling revenue and said the biggest jump in pokies losses came after the federal government's $900 stimulus package was distributed in December and April.

State opposition spokesman for gaming Michael O'Brien said that during the "cash splash" months of the stimulus package, losses increased by $55.3 million, or 58 per cent, with losses overall up $100 million.

"In the midst of an economic downturn, John Brumby and Kevin Rudd have made sure that pokie losses continue to soar," Mr O'Brien said.

"Mr Rudd could have sent the stimulus cheques directly to John Brumby and cut out the middle man."

Mr O'Brien said Mr Brumby had not done enough to tackle problem gambling and was now trying to expand gambling with 150 additional tables at Crown Casino.

"This is a government that is addicted to gambling revenue and unfortunately Victorians are paying a very heavy price for that," he said.

The government expects to reap $1.6 billion in taxes from all gambling for 2008/09.

The most prolific venues included the Plough Hotel in Mill Park in Melbourne's north, which recorded $20.3 million in pokies revenues, while the Skyways Taverner in Airport West and the Seaford Tavern in bayside Melbourne netted more than $19 million each.

But the VCGR said spending was down almost 21 per cent since 2000, taking into account population and inflation growth.

The number of pokies venues also dropped to 515, the lowest in a decade, while the number of licensed poker machines - 26,772 - also hit a 10-year low.

Mr O'Brien stopped short of saying poker machines should be banned.

He said the figures showed there was a hard core of problem gamblers in Victoria who were propping up the revenues of the state government.

"It's not time to ban pokies - it's time to tackle problem gambling seriously," he said.

"These people need assistance and John Brumby has been dragging his feet."

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