Wyndham’s councillors have vowed to take a stand against the impacts of problem gambling, including poker machine addiction.
Last week the council launched an update of its Responsible Gambling Strategy, to cover the next five years. As part of this, the council voted to join the Alliance for Gambling Reform.
The organisation – a collection of councils, churches and groups concerned about gambling – campaigns for reforms within the industry to reduce the harm association with poker machine addiction.
The council also voted to start a reference group to help develop its updated responsible gambling strategy.
The group, to be chaired by Cr Josh Gilligan, will help the council to create strategies to reduce the harms caused by problem gambling in Wyndham.
Figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation show electronic gaming machines in Wyndham raked in more than $8.26 million in March, compared to $7.10 million in February.
Within the 2015-16 financial year, Wyndham’s 893 poker machines earned more than $97 million.
This put Wyndham at eighth-highest in the state for pokies losses.
Cr Gilligan said the new Responsible Gambling Strategy would help the council take a strong stand on the “huge issue” of gambling.
He said it was important to reduce the overall losses from poker machines not only in Wyndham, but across the west.
Cr Heather Marcus said gambling addictions could be “dangerous”.
“The harms include not only financial disaster, bankruptcy and loss of assets, but also divorce, separation and its harmful impacts on children, family violence, mental and physically ill health, crime drug and alcohol abuse and self-harm,” she said.
• Visit gamblershelpnnw.org.au or contact Gambler’s Help – North and North Western on 1300 133 445 if you need help.
