Hobsons Bay City Council is leading a push from councils to have the Victorian Government extend its gambling pre-commitment laws to all gaming venues.
Having established the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence, in response, the government introduced laws requiring Crown Casino gamblers to pre-commit to losses and time spent on poker machines.
At its October meeting, Hobsons Bay City Council voted unanimously to put a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s state council on October 14:
‘That the MAV advocate to the Victorian Government to consider, informed by appropriate stakeholder consultation, extending the introduction of the new pre-commitment laws arising out of the 2021 Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence to all gaming venues across the state. Pre-commitment is a harm reduction measure requiring gamblers to set a limit on the time and money they intend to spend playing the pokies.’
The motion, which was taken to state council by Hobsons Bay’s MAV representative Cr Matt Tyler, was passed with a vote of 93 per cent in favour.
Cr Tyler said gambling harm was a deeper issue than solely financial loss and needed attention.
“Having grown up with a dad horribly addicted to gambling, I was pleased to gain support for this motion from my Hobsons Bay Councillor colleagues and other Councils across Victoria at the recent Municipal Association of Victoria State Council,” Cr Tyler said.
“The proposal builds on the Victorian Government’s decision to establish a Royal Commission into Crown Casino, which has set important directions that will have lasting and significant positive impacts across our state.
“Gambling harm goes well and truly beyond financial losses. There are significant volumes of research showing links between gambling harm and impacts on relationships, including family violence, as well as impacts on people’s psychological health and wellbeing.
“People can and do chase their gambling losses, so a pre-commitment mechanism is a sensible response to mitigate gambling harm.”
