By Gill Cooper
Council is opposing an application from the Geelong RSL to increase its current pokies by 30 extra machines to 72, as it tackles the wider impacts of problem gambling in the Geelong community.
Council voted this week to make a submission against the venue’s application to secure some of the 100 Electronic Gaming Machines licences divested by the Geelong Football Club.
The submission will be considered at Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation’s public hearing on the Geelong RSL application on 21 November.
Councillors had a lively debate on Tuesday night about the health and social impacts of gambling in the community versus benefits provided to military veterans through RSL-funded support services.
Greater Geelong has a total of 1292 EGMs, more than any other local government area in Victoria.
Cr Sarah Mansfield said that as a GP she had often seen “the devastation that problem gambling related to pokies can cause to people’s lives, and the lives of those around them.
“For me, this is a public health issue. It is linked to poor mental health and suicide, drug and alcohol problems, homelessness, crime, family violence and family breakdown, and unemployment.”
She told Council that the cycle of debt and addiction from pokies had “a large ripple effect” in the local community.
“I believe as a Council, we can and must do everything we can to reduce the harm from problem gambling related to pokies,” Cr Mansfield said.
“Our residents lost $118.8 million in the last financial year.”
Cr Eddy Kontelj said Council should support the application due to the RSL’s ongoing work in supporting returned servicemen and women.
“They fought for our freedom…and every Aussie adult’s right to punt just like the ANZACs,” he said.
“Operating pokies and gambling on EGMs is a legal and legitimate past-time.”
Cr Kontelj said Geelong RSL sub branch had proposed that if the installation of the extra 30 EGMs is approved, it would donate $30,000 per annum in community contributions to local clubs.
He said he witnessed the “great work” the RSL does but their ability to raise funds and provide services to veterans was “eroding while demand is growing”.
City Hall officers recommended against the bid after estimating losses for gamblers of $2.9 million in the first 12 months.
RSL president Andrew Hanns said he was unable to comment on Council’s decision given the club’s application to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation was still in progress.
However, he confirmed Geelong RSL’s options for fundraising remain limited, so the club presently relies on income from pokies to access professional counselling and support services for veterans.
