Gambling harm

Statistics

Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission research shows that as of September 2022 in the City of Glen Eira:

• there are 652 poker machines across nine venues
• $51.4 million was lost over the 2021-2022 financial year on poker machines.

The social cost of gambling harm to the Victorian community is estimated to be $7 billion. The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation found that:

• approximately 70 per cent of Victoria’s adult population gambles
• nearly 40 per cent of people who experience problem gambling are in a state of high distress
• 70 per cent of gambling harm is experienced by people whose behaviour is not classified as problem gambling
• gambling causes the following harms:
  • health problems
  • relationship problems
  • emotional and psychological issues
  • financial losses
  • government regulation and support services costs
  • lost productivity at work and in study
  • crime and justice system costs.

Costs of gambling

• Australians spend $1,300 on gambling per capita each year.
• 1 in 5 Victorians who gamble may be experiencing harm from gambling.
• The social cost of gambling to Victorians is $7 billion annually.
• Victorians lost $2.2 billion to pokies in the 2021–22 financial year.
• 51.4 million lost to pokies in Glen Eira for the 2021–22 financial year.
• There is 1 in 9.7 million chance of winning the top prize on a poker machine.

Community Wellbeing Plan

We are committed to the prevention and reduction of gambling harm in the community, as demonstrated in Glen Eira Community Wellbeing Plan 2021–2025. We are working to create healthier environments, discourage harmful gambling behaviours and support people in our community who are experiencing high levels of disadvantage and vulnerability. We're raising community awareness through campaigns and providing education on the impacts of gambling harm.

As stated in the Community Safety Plan 2022–2025, we work in partnership with the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Gambler’s Help Southern to implement campaigns that minimise gambling harm.

Advocacy

We join with the Municipal Association of Victoria and other key stakeholders as a founding supporter of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, which seeks to campaign for reforms to the gambling industry to reduce harm from poker machines and to protect disadvantaged communities from increasing numbers of poker machines.

We are calling on the State Government to implement the Alliance for Gambling Reform Pokies agenda, including a suite of complementary harm reduction measures — such as changes to opening hours of venues, having gaming machines turned off between 2am and 6am and the introduction of a binding pre-commitment system whereby each person sets their own reasonable time and money limits.

Support services

Gambler's Help Southern, provides a range of services to residents:

• financial counselling
• mental health, drug and alcohol, family and relationship, health promotion, and
• gaming venue support education services

Contact Gambler's Help Southern on 03 9575 5353

Gambling Help Online contact on 1800 858 858 (24 hours, 7 days, free call)