Media Release

Poker machines in the Shire of Yarra Ranges could more than double under the Brumby Governments proposed gambling amendments.

The Gambling Regulation Amendment (Licensing) Bill 2009 currently facing parliament would introduce an individual licensing system where each pub or club would purchase a licence to house each individual machine, breaking up the duopoly of Tattersalls and Tabaret.

Government regulations permit a total of 10 machines per 1000 people in each municipality. The Shire of Yarra Ranges currently has a population of 107,364 with only 427 machines out of an allowed 1073. This means that feasibly, 646 new licences could be sold by the government for pokies in the Shire of Yarra Ranges under the new system.

Kilsyth MP David Hodgett warned that such a huge increase in pokies could have serious consequences. “We currently have enough pokies to service the needs of the community. That this number could potentially double is ludicrous.”

“We do not want to reach a saturation point where we are bombarded with pokies. The Shire of Yarra Ranges is a community known for its picturesque landscapes and diverse lifestyle, and we want to preserve this image, not become a community with a pokies venue on every corner.”

Victoria has a cap of 27,500 machines. Currently, the number of pokies sits short of this number, meaning additional machines could go to venues wishing to purchase more licences.

The Amendment is expected to appear before Parliament in the next sitting week.