Elsie Lange
Gambling expenditure on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Macedon Ranges shire rose to more than $737,000 in January 2022.
While many local government areas (LGAs) experienced a decline in pokies spending after a boom month in December 2021, Macedon Ranges increased – from $736,255 in December to $737,593 in January.
There are just three pokies venues in the shire with a total of 103 machines, including 25 machines at the Kyneton Bowling Club, 28 at the Kyneton RSL and 50 at the Victorian Tavern in Gisborne.
More than $2 million was spent at the Victorian Tavern alone since July last year, which divided by the number of machines at the venue, is about $41,000 spent on each.
A Macedon Ranges council spokesperson said they were aware of “considerable local community disquiet and negativity” towards gambling, supporting council to have a bigger say in how venues are run and located.
The spokesperson said residents’ concerns ranged from the effect of pokies on the character of small towns, the effect of EGMs on vulnerable people, insignificant financial benefit to local communities and the flow of money away from the shire.
“Gambling can have a ripple effect, impacting others,” they said.
“From a public health perspective, related harms may include relationship difficulties, health problems, emotional or psychological distress, financial problems, issues with work or study, cultural problems and criminal activity.”
The spokesperson said council’s Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025 outlined the role that council will play in improving the health of residents, including the plan to reduce harm resulting from gambling, smoking, drugs and alcohol.
“The rolling actions within the Health and Wellbeing Plan are to raise awareness of gambling-related harms, work with partners to deliver community education on gambling, gaming and screen harm, and explore opportunities to better regulate the advertising or promotion of gambling on council land and roads in future reviews of council’s local laws,” they said.
“Of note, council participates in the Local Government Working Group on Gambling which is convened by the Victorian Local Governance Association, and makes regular representations to the state government supporting legislation that minimises gambling harm.”
