Australia: Victorian Councils move to limit poker machines in poor areas

At least 20 councils have submitted planning amendments to the state government for approval, aiming to better control where poker machines are located. The cities of Monash and Wyndham are among the latest to propose tougher guidelines. Their proposals include laws seeking to "discourage" gaming machines:

-In areas of socio-economic disadvantage, including within 400 metres of established public housing areas;

-In areas that do not already have poker machines;

-Around retail strips or shopping centres;

-Within 400 metres of other gaming venues.

Monash City Council is seeking community feedback about its proposal. But mayor Geoff Lake said that, while the council was doing what it could, it was the state government’s job to beef up protection for vulnerable communities.

The council is among a group of 14 municipalities that recently called for the government to introduce more stringent caps on electronic gaming machines in needy areas.

The state government has been quick to rule out reform. Liquor and Gaming Regulation Minister Edward O'Donohue said there was already a cap on Victoria's 30,000 gaming machines, "as well as regional caps, municipal limits and venue restrictions".

"The government has no plans to change the number of gaming machines permitted in Victoria or to alter regional caps or municipal limits," he said.

Labor's spokesman for gaming and racing, Martin Pakula, said he would be happy to sit down with the Municipal Association of Victoria and "consider any sensible approach to tackling problem gambling in the community".

According to Monash City Council, only two of the 27 applications considered by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation last year were successfully objected to by councils.

Monash University gambling researcher Charles Livingstone said that, unlike the state government, councils received none of the direct financial benefits of poker machines but had to "pick up the pieces and their services are often overstretched because of it".

Dr Livingstone said councils historically had little success in challenging poker machine applications, but new planning regulations focusing on vulnerable populations were starting to have "some impact".

"Saying 'no gambling anywhere any time' is not going to work, but if they have a policy that is well considered and is focused on minimising harm ... it's going to be more carefully considered by decision-makers and VCAT," he said.

Almost US$2.5 billion is lost to Victoria's poker machines annually, of which just over US$1 billion is collected by the state government through taxes. The Coalition has spent US$150 million over four years while funding the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.