Millions of dollars are being ploughed into pokie machines across Sunbury every month by punters hoping to win big.
According to figures published by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (see below) an average of $420,000 was lost to 230 pokies at five venues in Sunbury every week in 2022. That’s almost $22 million a year.
However, it is a legal requirement for pokie venues to ensure its machines return a minimum of 85% of all bets as prizes over a 12-month period – some operators set the return higher than the minimum. Losses of $22 million mean players gambled somewhere between $146 million and $245 million on pokies alone in Sunbury.
A Victoria government audit report questioning the effectiveness of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation‘s aim of reducing gambling harm concluded it was impossible to say if the foundation was having any impact.
Speaking during a Hume council meeting on Monday 26 June, discussing the council’s response to the audit report, Jackson Creek Cllr Jack Medcraft said: “We have a major problem with gambling in our city.”
Don’t rely on pokies as a means to get out of trouble…
Cllr Jack Medcraft
Cllr Medcraft said that with the cost of living going up it frightens him to think that people believe “pumping their hard-earned money into a machine that’s geared to take their money,” will win them the jackpot.
“It’s never going to happen,” he says. “If you gamble you really are gambling with more than just a couple of dollars. You are gambling with your life. People need to take stock of the situation. Don’t rely on pokies as a means to get out of trouble.”
Speaking at the same meeting, Meadow Valley ward Cllr Naim Kurt said families and communities across the city are experiencing “significant health, social and economic impacts from all forms of gambling”.
“Problem gambling is most strongly associated with electronic gambling machines,” he said.
“There is a growth in online gambling, and we have concerns about this unregulated industry and its gearing toward young people.”
City-wide problem
Hume Council has a regional cap of 851 pokie machines. On 30 June 2022, there were 833 pokies operating across the city – 98% of the legal limit.
The Victorian Gambling Foundation is funding a number of councils, including Hume City Council, to run the Libraries After Dark program which is focused on reaching at-risk communities and those most vulnerable to social isolation, which the foundation says is a known risk factor for gambling harm.
GAMBLING HELPLINES
Gamblers Help Sunbury
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem contact Gamblers Help – Sunbury.
Call 1300 133 445 (Gamblers Help North and North Western)
Gambler’s Helpline
Phone: 1800 858 858 or 1800 262 376 (Youthline) – www.gamblershelp.com.au
Provides confidential and free support and advice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for anyone affected by gambling – their own, or someone else’s. Gambler’s Helpline can make referrals to local services for financial and therapeutic counselling.
Gambling Help Online
Provides anonymous, free, confidential advice and counselling through email or 24/7 online live chat.
Player losses in 2022 at each venue were… (data supplied by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation):
Olive Tree Hotel
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 43 | $3,182,504 | $74,012 |
| July – December | 43 | $3,328,941 | $77,417 |
| Total for 2022 | 43 | $6,511,445 | $151,429 |
Royal Hotel (Sunbury)
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 31 | $3,601,918 | $116,191 |
| July – December | 31 | $4,025,857 | $129,866 |
| Total for 2022 | 31 | $7,627,775 | $246,057 |
Sunbury Bowling Club
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 78 | $2,185,676 | $28,021 |
| July – December | 78 | $2,267,680 | $29,073 |
| Total for 2022 | 78 | $4,453,356 | $57,094 |
Sunbury Social Club
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 38 | $517,308 | $13,613 |
| July – December | 38 | $629,847 | $16,575 |
| Total for 2022 | 38 | $1,147,155 | $30,188 |
Sunbury United Sporting Club
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 40 | $1,138,884 | $28,472 |
| July – December | 40 | $1,350,698 | $33,767 |
| Total for 2022 | 40 | $2,489,582 | $62,239 |
The total pokie machine loses for Sunbury in 2022
| Time period | Number of machines | Player losses | Avge loss per machine |
| January – June | 230 | $10,626,290 | $46,201 |
| July – December | 230 | $11,603,023 | $50,448 |
| Total for 2022 | 230 | $22,229,313 | $96,649 |
