HIGHER council rates for pokies venues could soon become a reality, with Wyndham councillors throwing their support behind a new approach to tackle problem gambling.
Councillors last week unanimously endorsed a draft two-year responsible gambling strategy, including a proposal to apply different rates on pokies venues.
Extra money raised under higher rates would be funnelled into education programs and schemes to help problem gamblers.
It follows a similar move in Melbourne’s east, with Manningham Council last week voting to double rates for gaming venues. Moreland Council introduced higher rates in 2010.
With more than $45million poured into Wyndham’s pokies machines in the six months to December, projected losses for this financial year are set to eclipse the $85million lost in 2010-11.
The council’s chief executive, Kerry Thompson, said the new gaming strategy came after last year’s alarming losses, which equated to about $730 per adult resident, well above the state average of $613 per adult.
Cr Shane Bourke said the council’s current pokies policy was inadequate to deal with the burgeoning issue of problem gambling.
He said the council had knocked back a number of recent applications for extra pokies machines only to have decisions overturned by the Victorian Commission for Gaming Regulation.
“It’s something we all became very frustrated over, and as time went by, it was obvious we were flogging a dead horse. This new responsible gaming strategy gives us a new opportunity, it gives us some influence and discretion we haven’t had before, and puts us in a position to protect the most vulnerable people in our community.”
But the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which owns Werribee Plaza Tavern, said pokies venues already paid their share.
“We pay our taxes on our revenue to the state and we believe that’s where gaming taxation sits,” spokesman David Curry said.
Feedback on the council’s draft gambling policy will be accepted until the end of the month.
