In recent years, Victoria has been one of the most progressive states with regards to reforming pokie laws to reduce gambling harm. However, these efforts have not impressed city councillors from across the state, and the City of Whittlesea is just one of many councils that has requested more safeguards for pokies. Whittlesea Mayor Mary Lalios has recently spoken out about the issue of problem gambling in her city.
Last week, she attended a meeting for city councils across Victoria at which they were given the opportunity to join forces the campaign for the same cause. She would like to see poker machine caps enforced across the entire city, as there are only caps placed on clubs in the southern part of Whittlesea.
The meeting was held was Monash Mayor Geoff Lake, who has been very vocal about his demands for more control over poker machine laws. He has requested that the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation be completely overhauled in order to effectively reduce problem gambling rates across the state.
However, his suggestion has not been viewed positively by members of the gambling industry and state politicians. Edward O’Donohue, Liquor and Gaming Regulation Minister, states that the VCGLR is doing everything in its power to help reduce problem gambling rates. In recent years, the state has passed laws banning ATMs at poker machine venues and the use of headphones while playing pokies.
State politicians have plenty more safeguards planned, and it does not seem like they appreciate being accused of not doing enough to stop problem gambling. “He clearly has little understanding of the system”, O’Donohue says. “The VCGLR enforces strict caps on the numbers of gaming machines in council areas and different regions”.
City councils are banning together to apply more pressure – but will the VCGLR budge? This power struggle will carry on for quite some time, and we will keep you updated with further developments.
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