No cap placed on Cardinia’s pokies

By Paul Dunlop
POKER machine numbers in Cardinia Shire will not be capped, despite fears gambling is already causing enough problems – particularly in Pakenham.
The State Government last week announced plans to cap the number of gaming machines in several municipalities, including the City of Casey.
More than 500 pokie machines will also be removed from some areas.
Premier Steve Bracks said the new machine limits showed his Government was committed to acting on problem gambling and providing an environment where people could gamble responsibly.
But Cardinia Shire councillor Kate Lempriere said she remained concerned about the number of poker machines in Pakenham and the effect they were having on some people in the community.
Cr Lempriere said legislation changes had also put increasing pressure on councils to decide applications involving gaming machines.
She said she was very concerned about the impact of pokies on the community.
“Money is being spent on gaming could be used to feed families,” she said.
Pakenham is the only town in Cardinia Shire with pokies, with about 200 machines spread around four venues.
But plans are on the drawing board for new venues or the expansion of existing venues in Pakenham and at Beaconsfield.
Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation figures put the town’s electronic gaming machine turnover at more than $15 million every year.
But Cardinia residents are well below their counterparts in the City of Casey, where a whopping $100 million – or more than $8 million a month – is poured into 879 machines across a dozen venues.
The City of Casey is just outside a list of the top 10 metropolitan municipalities worst affected by gambling.
Cardinia councillors discussed gambling and the recent legislation changes at a meeting on Monday.
The State Government said the new regional caps policy, which limits machines to a maximum of 10 per 1000 adults, created the right balance.
But Bass MP Ken Smith, the Opposition’s spokesperson for gaming, said Labor was only shuffling pokie problems from one area to another to look like it was doing something.
“It’s unacceptable – and an attempt by Labor to downplay the magnitude of the problem is deplorable,” Mr Smith said.
“Labor has turned its back on Victorians when it comes to encouraging responsible gambling, and cannot wean itself off its own gambling revenue addiction.”
Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos said the Liberal promise to cut pokie machines was “empty”.