Victoria Pokie Losses on the Rise

Last year, Victoria implemented a number of harm minimisation measures, which helped to reduce problem gambling spending. Local politicians were pleased that gambling spending was on the decline, but August 2013 saw the poker machine market’s first increase in almost a year, which could be a cause for concern.

In November 2012, ATMs were banned in poker machine venues. In the six months following the ban, pokie losses dropped $184 million, marking a 7% decline. Since then, spending has steadily fallen, and local politicians were pleased that problem gamblers were spending less money on pokies.

In August 2013, however, pokies spending increased yet again. Players in Victoria spent 7% more on pokies in August than they had in July, prompting politicians to worry whether their harm minimisation measures are effective. There are now concerns that the ATM ban was only a temporary solution.

So, it may be time to implement more responsible gambling measures. Recently, players have expressed that they want to have limits placed on EFTPOS withdrawals and pokie clubs, which may be the next solution for helping to get gambling spending under control in Victoria.