$80m lost on Kingston pokies Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au PUNTERS in Victoria lost $5.8 billion while gambling in the past financial year and poker machine losses in pubs and clubs made up $2.57 billion of the total losses as gamblers. An annual report tabled by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in State Parliament last week revealed that in 2014-15 gamblers lost $2.57 billion on pokies, $1.84 billion on gaming machines and tables at Crown Casino and $857.6 million on racing, trackside, football and sports betting. Victorians also lost $500.6 million on lotteries and $16.7 million on Keno. While punters lost cash the state government raked in $1.62 billion in taxes and levies on gambling profits. VCGLR data shows Kingston pokies players lost $81.5 million for the 12 months from July 2014 until June this year, up from losses of just under $80 million in 2013-14. The City of Kingston is the tenth highest local government area for per capita spend on pokies in Victoria with an average loss of $670 annually per adult, according to VCGLR statistics. The Dingley International Hotel recorded the highest amount of pokies lost with $15.2 million lost by pokies players at the venue in a 12-month period. In 2013 the hotel’s owners Willetts D.I. Pty Ltd was fined $45,000 after a problem gambler complained the venue allowed him to withdraw $7000 from his account in a single transaction. Gaming venues by law must limit
single transaction withdrawals to $200. The problem gambler lost a total of $84,950 at the hotel within a month. A voluntary pre-commitment scheme, called YourPlay, aimed at problem gamblers and those who wish to limit their pokies losses will be introduced by the Labor state government in December. Gamblers will be able to sign up for a swipe card to set spending limits, set reminders and track how much time and money they are spending on gaming machines. The YourPlay scheme, designed by the Department of Justice and Regulation, has bipartisan support from the state Liberal National Coalition opposition. When launching a trial of the precommitment scheme in July, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Jane Garrett said Labor “is leading the way with this Australian-first pre-commitment scheme”. “For the first time people will be able to walk into a gaming venue anywhere in the state and control how much time and money they want to spend.” Critics of the $197 million YourPlay scheme – mostly paid for by the pokies industry, after consultation with industry, community groups and researchers – note gamblers can choose to play on after they reach the preselected swipe card limit. Gamblers in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and Frankston lost a total of $79.4 million and $62 million respectively on the pokies in the past financial year.
Terror ride as victims chased, attacked FOUR men in two cars chased and attacked a driver and his passenger in Graham Rd, Carrum, 9pm, Sunday 1 November. Their car was so badly damaged that it is considered a “write-off”. Senior Constable Chris Victory, of Kingston CIU, said the victims had turned from Station St into McLeod Rd where they saw two cars stopped side-by-side, blocking both westbound lanes on the opposite side of road. They tooted at the cars – prompting the savage response. The cars then spun around and began chasing the victims, with one racing around on the wrong side of the road to get in front of their car, while the other remained close behind. Approaching Graham Rd, the car in front stopped allowing the victim, 22, of Carrum, and his brother, 26, of Baxter, to turn right into Graham Rd. The three cars all pulled over, and the four men got out and began kicking the victims’ car, damaging panels and smashing the windows. One man used a sledgehammer to smash the rear windscreen. Another punched the passenger in the front seat three times through the smashed window. Both drivers’ side windows were smashed, as were the rear windscreen and front passenger side window. All four doors were damaged, and front quarter panels dented and taillights smashed. The driver was showered with glass from the windows causing small cuts over his face and arms. The passenger received injuries to the back of his head, nose and lip. The offenders were not known to the victims, whose 2000 Ford Fiesta hatch sustained damage to all panels. Nothing was stolen in the attack. The attackers’ vehicles are described as newish model silver SUVs. The men were described as: Caucasian, 1825, average height, wearing jeans, T-shirt, flat brim cap; African appearance, 18-25, dark clothing, flat brim cap; Caucasian, 25-30, 183cm, thin build, black snap back cap, black long sleeve top, dark pants. Maori, 18-20, 170cm, skinny build, T-shirt and shorts. Anyone with information on the attack should contact Senior Constable Chris Victory at Kingston CIU, call 9556 6111.
POKIES LOSSES IN KINGSTON Venue
EGMs
Dingley International 90 Sandbelt Club Hotel 100 Royal Oak Hotel 76 The Cove Hotel 53 Mordialloc Sporting Club 82 Tudor Inn Hotel 56 Chelsea Heights Hotel 40 Long Beach Hotel 49 Edithvale-Chelsea RSL 80 The Bridge Hotel 50 St Kilda Football Club 83 Highett RSL 41 Cheltenham-Moorabbin RSL 41 Clayton Bowls Club 29 Freccia Azzurra Club 35 Mentone RSL 25
Money lost* $15,203,550 $12,201,965 $8,438,678 $7,143,595 $6,151,277 $5,764,496 $4,921,719 $4,801,739 $3,800,548 $3,280,370 $2,294,691 $2,208,929 $1,977,219 $1,509,174 $1,118,835 $693,101
*Electronic gaming maching (EGMs) losses are for the 2014-15 financial year from July 2014 to June 2015. Data collected by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. See vcgr.vic.gov.au for monthly breakdown of pokies losses per municipality and venue.
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 18 November 2015
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