By Grace Frost
The magnitude of electronic gaming machines expenditure in the City of Whittlesea has caused ‘deep concern’ for council, with post-pandemic losses dwarfing pre-lockdown statistics.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, VGCCC, found $34.7 million in electronic gaming expenditure in the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik between January and the end of March – the municipality’s highest first-quarter spending on record.
VGCCC data showed an increase in expenditure on electronic gaming every financial year from 2012-13 until the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from $101 million to $120.7 million in 2018-19.
The closure of gaming venues during lockdowns resulted in a sharp decline in expenditure, dropping to $91 million in 2019-20 and $72 million in 2020-21.
However pokie players in the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik were quick to uptake electronic gaming post-pandemic, causing expenditure to rise again.
In 2022, losses stacked up at $149.1 million – a 21.85 per cent increase from the $122.3 million lost in 2019.
Gamblers in the City of Whittlesea alone spent $267,752 on pokies daily in the 2021-22 financial year – the sixth highest expenditure in Victoria.
As the cost of living continues to rise, community leaders are concerned about the increase of gambling and its impact on both mental health and financial security.
City of Whittlesea chief executive officer Craig Lloyd said council was ‘deeply concerned’ about the annual expenditure on electronic gaming in their area, but said regulations on gaming machines fell to the State Government.
Mr Lloyd said council had been advocating to the government for funding to extend the Libraries After Dark program, which ‘provides a safe and welcoming alternative for community at risk of social isolation, gambling harm and family violence’.
“Council has a longstanding position on advocating for gambling harm minimisation measures including reducing the operating hours of gaming venues and capping gaming machine numbers,” he said.
“We know with the increase in the cost of living, gambling losses add to the financial pressure and stress on households.
“We have also created and promoted a range of free or low-cost events, programs and activities such as our community festival and our positive ageing program.
“We are exploring next steps to support our community on gambling as part of developing our Connected Communities Strategy.”
More than $112 million was raked out in the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik between July 2022 and the conclusion of March 2023 – only three quarters of the 2022-23 financial year but already an 6.7 per cent increase on the entirety of 2021-22 losses.
With an average of $12.3 million lost every month in the 2022-23 financial year tallied so far, projected losses are expected to bypass $148 million in the City of Whittlesea and Nillumbik Shire once data for May and June is collected – the highest expenditure during a financial year ever recorded in the municipality.
There were 10 operating gaming venues in the City of Whittlesea as of April this year, compared with 14 in Hume and six in the Mitchell Shire.
People in the City of Whittlesea spent $97.7 million in 2021-22, compared to $15 million in the Mitchell Shire.
The City of Hume recorded higher expenditure in 2021-22, with nearly $104.6 million lost across its 14 venues at $286,440 spent per day – the third highest expenditure in Victoria.
Victoria saw an overall 12.45 per cent increase in electronic gaming expenditure from 2019 to post-lockdowns in 2022, with losses totalling $3 billion.
READ MORE:
WALLAN GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: THERE’S NO SHAME IN SEEKING HELP
GAMING MACHINE EXPENDITURE SOARS ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN MITCHELL SHIRE
