In Victoria, lawmakers have launched a number of initiatives to drive down problem gambling rates across the state. Over the course of the past few years, a positive effect has been seen, as overall gambling participation has declined. According to the Victorian Prevalence Study 2014, gambling participation rates in Victoria fell from 21.5% in 2008 to 16.7% in 2014.

The number of people playing pokies has also dropped from 33.5% of people playing pokies at least once a year to 15.2% in 2014. On the other hand, sportsbetting and race betting have been on the increase. The ban on ATMs has gone a long way to helping reduce problem gambling rates in the state. A few years ago, the Victorian government prohibited cash machines from being placed in any gaming venues.

So, players must either visit the cashier to make an EFTPOS withdrawal or leave the venue altogether to find an ATM. This also encourages players to get up from their pokie and take a break from gaming to reflect on their spending. Another reason gambling participation may be down is due to the increasing popularity of online casinos.

More and more players are choosing to play pokies online rather than in land-based gambling venues like clubs. Many online casinos offers more generous bonuses and games with lower limits, so players can control their spending more easily. DWS notes that online gambling presents a challenge to land-based clubs in Victoria, and suggests to become more competitive.

The research firm states that land-based venues have the competitive advantage of in-person interaction with players, so club and casino operators must offer players an exciting and engaging environment in which to play pokies and other casino games. Across the rest of the country, gambling rates continue to climb. It may be time for other states to consider enacting harm minimisation measures to help drive down problem gambling rates.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.