Greater Dandenong City Council has called upon the Victorian Government to lower the maximum opening hours at gambling venues from 20 hours a day to 14 hours.
This step is aimed at reducing gambling harm in the community following the opening of most gambling venues on 9 November 2020.
Current permits allow venues to seek permission to open for up to 20 hours per day. Many close at 4am or 5am, before re-opening as early as 8am.
Council‘s proposal is that gambling venues be required to close by midnight and not open again until 10 am.
Martin Fidler, Director of Community Services explained the hours can be harmful.
“Being able to use gambling machines as late as 4am, or as early as 8am, harms vulnerable residents. We want to reduce the risk of harm, particularly as our community recovers from the pandemic.”
“Let’s put the pokies to bed between midnight and 10am.”
“In 2018-19, Greater Dandenong residents lost $119 million to gambling machines, or ‘pokies’, at local hotels and clubs. Since the lockdown in late March, losses have declined by $76 million”, Mr Fidler added.
“Reduced opening hours at gaming venues would ease the hardship that will once again be inflicted upon many residents and their families, as gambling venues re-open.”
“This is an opportunity to protect those with gambling problems from incurring the level of gambling losses they experienced before lockdown.
Council also urges the Victorian Government to enforce a two-hour limit upon the time patrons can use gambling machines, to lower the risk of transmission while easing the impact of an expected surge in local gambling losses.
“These two steps would help reduce hardship gambling causes for many local families, helping them put food on the table and pay their bills,” Mr Fidler said.
