COVID-19 restrictions have stopped more than $17.3 million being fed into Geelong pokies, the Alliance for Gambling Reform has estimated.
The alliance’s chief advocate, Tim Costello, described restrictions shutting down poker machines as a silver lining of the pandemic.
“It has been awful reading about the lives lost to COVID-19 around Australia, and my heart goes out to the people who have been affected,” he said.
“We also feel tremendously deeply for the people of Geelong who have lost their jobs through this devastating crisis.
“But the shutdown of poker machines in Geelong has undoubtedly improved lives for many people for the better, and perhaps even saved local lives.”
The estimated figure, based on average monthly pokies losses for greater Geelong, equates to more than $326,000 saved per day since March 23, according to the alliance.
Monthly pokies losses hit a 20-year low in March as restrictions came into force, according to statistics from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. The commission has yet to release April figures.
But with all pokies venues closed, Geelong will record zero losses for April, the lowest monthly figure in the history of gaming machines in the city, according to the alliance.
“Some people will have turned to online gambling, and we are concerned about this,” Reverend Costello said.
“But the majority of gambling harm in Geelong is attributable to poker machines.”
The money saved would be spent locally at a time when it was needed most, Revered Costello said.
“Poker machines are an effective drain on the Geelong economy.
“They prevent people from having the money to not only pay their bills but to also do the little things in their community like buy a coffee and cake or a book from a local shop.”
The alliance was hearing “great stories” of people no longer having money “bled by poker machines” from their accounts, Reverend Costello said.
“I know of one mother who is finally breathing a sigh of relief knowing her child can no longer blow his income on the pokies.
“He’s finally eating and putting on weight as his depression is much improved since the pokies shutdown.”
Australians lost $25 billion gambling last year, the highest rate of losses per head in the entire world, according to the alliance.
