Kingston ready to challenge the $86 million annual cost of gaming
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29 November 2018
With Kingston residents losing $236,000 a day to pokie machines, Kingston Council is calling on the Victorian Government to take urgent action to reduce the impact of gaming in our local community.
Kingston Councillors this week called for much-needed gaming reforms to:
Reduce the total number of pokies allowed in Kingston from 1200 to 898 – which is the amount currently located at Kingston venues Reduce the hours of operation at gaming venues, from 10am to midnight Restrict designs in machines which can cause harm or addiction Introduce a $1 bet limit per button push Adopt a range of other measures to curb the impact of gaming in our community.Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley said Council wanted to speak up on behalf of the community to challenge the devastation gaming was causing on some local families.
“Kingston is one of the areas most affected by pokies with the 9th highest losses recorded in Victoria,” Cr Oxley. “Our community lost over $86 million in the last financial year, up $3 million from 2016-2017. This is far too high a price to pay,” said Cr Oxley.
Council is committed to addressing these issues and will soon begin work to review our current Gambling Policy. As part of this, we will undertake consultations to identify the issues of the most concern within our community.
In 2017, Council joined the cities of Melbourne, Greater Dandenong, Moreland, Whittlesea and Monash on the leadership group of The Alliance for Gambling Reform.
“By working together with other local councils, we can highlight the devastating impact gambling is having on our community and join forces to call for tighter regulation by the Victorian Government.”
Anybody impacted by gambling can call the Gambler’s Helpline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 858 858.
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