NEWS DESK
Gamblers lose $79m to peninsula pokies Mike Hast mike@mpnews.com.au GAMBLERS lost more than $79 million on the Mornington Peninsula's 858 poker machines at 17 venues last financial year. Figures were released by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in its 2014-15 annual report, tabled in state Parliament last Tuesday. Victorians gambled away $5.8 billion, 7.7 per cent up from the previous year. The state government pocketed $1.6 billion from gambling revenue in 2014-15, $400 million more than predicted by gambling opponents two years ago. Victorians lost more money on every form of gambling including poker machines, sports betting, lotteries, Keno and at the casino. Pokies accounted for the biggest losses, with $2.57 billion going into the slots of the state's 27,000 gaming machines, an increase of 2.7 per cent on the previous year. More than $25 billion has been lost on pokies in Victoria in the past decade. The Grand Hotel in Mornington pipped Rosebud Hotel as the leading venue on the peninsula for pokies losses – $11.09 million compared to $11.06 million. No 3 was Steeples, also in Mornington, with $9.18 million. They were followed by Somerville Hotel $5.7 million, Rye RSL $5.6m, Rosebud RSL $4.98m, Stella's Dromana Hotel $4.9m, Westernport Hotel in Hastings $4.5m, Baxter Tavern $3.4m, Rye Hotel $3.1m, Kings Creek Hotel in Hastings $3.1m, Dava Hotel in Mt Martha $2.88m, Hastings Cricket and Football Social Club $2.8m, Mornington On Tanti Hotel $2.15m, Kirkpatricks
Hotel in Mornington $1.9m, Rosebud Country Club $1.44m, and Peninsula Club in Dromana $1.4m. Pokies players on the peninsula lost more than $20 million in the first three months of the 201516 financial year, $545,000 more than the same time last year. Poker machines on the peninsula made headlines earlier in the year when Stella's Dromana Hotel was refused approval for an additional nine machines to add to its 41, but Mornington On Tanti Hotel sought and won permission for an extra 17 pokies to take its total from 23 to 40. Stella's is still seeking extra pokies. The Peninsula Club in Dromana, formerly Dromana-Red Hill RSL, won approval for 15 pokies last year. It had wanted 18 machines but a compromise was reached that saw the club make a large cash payment to a community group. It now has 35 pokies. Last year a report stated the gambling commission had capped poker machines in the municipality at 1127. Council's out-of-date responsible gaming strategy was due to be revised in April but has not been completed. The Labor government recently stated it would trial a system that linked all pokies in Victoria and give gamblers the option to pre-set how much they were prepared to lose. Dr Charles Livingstone of Monash University's school of public health reportedly said the takeup rate would be low. He said a serious pre-commitment system would be mandatory and require gamblers to set limits well in advance. He said people with a gambling problem wouldn't want to know how much they were spending when in front of a machine.
Bug’s ear: “Farmer Dave” Graham is Peninsula Pet Expo’s ambassador. He is holding Matilda. Picture supplied
All creatures furry and feathered ALL creatures furry, rough skinned and feathered will be at the free annual Peninsula Pet Expo on the Village Green in Rosebud 9am-3pm on Sunday 29 November, which is hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire. One highlight will be NSW dog trainer and qualified behaviourist "Farmer Dave" Graham with his "Muttley Crew", a troupe of dogs dumped at animal shelters – because their owners couldn't cope with their bad behaviour – which he has transformed into acclaimed performers. Graham first came to attention as a competitor on TV reality show Big Brother and used his profile to open the Farmer Dave Dog Centre, a purpose-built dog training and sports centre in
IN THE MAIN SAIL BAR Monday - Tuesday Pot P ot & Parma $16* ot 7.00PM
western Sydney for dogs and their owners. His show includes information about animal behaviour and dog breeds. Other highlights include milking of cows, horse grooming and horsemanship demonstrations, farm animals, miniature pony show, specialty breeds cat show, sheep herding and shearing, animal rescue groups, more than 40 exhibitors including birds of prey and reptiles, free face painting, and roving performers including Shaun the Sheep and Mr Peabody and Sherman. Dogs must be on leads. Details: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/petexpo, call 1300 850 600 or email: events@mornpen. vic.gov.au
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• Wedding • Conferences • Functions • Family Bistro • Playzone • Full TAB Facilities • Live Fox Footy channel 2415 Pt Nepean Rd Rye Beach Ph 5985 2277 www.ryehotel.com.au
Southern Peninsula News 17 November 2015
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