The news was stunning. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation recently released the figures from the 2018-2019 financial year, and the amount spent on pokies had increased from the previous year.
The new figure of pokies expenditures was $2.699 billion.
Overall Numbers
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) published its annual gaming expenditure data for the previous financial year, which was from the first of July 2018 through the end of June 2019.
The amount that Victorians lost was $2.699 billion.
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As compared to the previous years, it was not a significant increase, but it was notable.
2018-2019: $2,698,707,179 ($3,423,154 more than previous year, 0.13% increase)
2017-2018: $2,695,284,025 ($85,753,965 more than previous year, 3.29% increase)
2016-2017: $2,609,530,060
The percentages are not as startling as the actual numbers, as $3.4 million is still a big number despite being less than a one percent increase.
Further, the past two years have seen increases despite more initiatives and funding for responsible gambling programs and problem gambling assistance.
Locality Breakdowns
There are 492 clubs and hotels that offer pokies in Victoria, and the totals are broken down by the 57 separate local government areas in the VCGLR report. Those numbers are actually provided on a monthly basis.
To more closely examine the data, let’s take the month of July 2019.
The City of Greater Geelong has the most electronic gaming machines of all of the 57 government areas.
- Number of pokies: 1,304
- Number of venues: 26
- Total player loss in July 2019: $9,440,064.53 ($7,239.31 per machine)
- Total 2019 player loss: $120,385,434.81 ($92,320.12 per machine)
The City of Greater Dandenong has the second-highest number:
- Number of pokies: 957
- Number of venues: 15
- Total player loss in July 2019: $9,418,237.08 ($9,841.42 per machine)
- Total 2019 player loss: $119,311,877.93 ($124,672.81 per machine)
The City of Monash is a close third place:
- Number of pokies: 955
- Number of venues: 15
- Total player loss in July 2019: $8,946,838.35 ($9,358.42 per machine)
- Total 2019 player loss: $110,209,894.94 ($115,403.03 per machine)
Of course, the outcomes of these breakdowns depend very much on the location of the venues, the income average of the patrons, and even the location of the pokies in the venues. However, it gives some perspective as to the amount of money spent per machine in the various areas.
Gambling Victoria Statistics Definition
Data also varies by month due to seasonal changes. For example, in the City of Greater Geelong, July 2018 showed $10,670,474 in losses across all venues, but that number was only $8,873,166 in February 2019. A number of societal and season differences can affect the trends.
VRGF Work
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is the statutory authority created by the Victorian government to try to reduce the amount of gambling harm in the area. VRGF reports to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.
It was created in 2011 with the vision of making Victoria a place free from gambling-related harm. The mission statement sums up its goals:
“To improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians by working with our communities and government to deliver effective, evidence-based initiatives and innovative approaches to prevent gambling harm and provide support for those seeking help.”
Recent Research
The most recent major initiative from VRGF came from its research agenda for 2018-2022.
Through significant and detailed research, the hope is to obtain a base of evidence around gambling that enables the organization to reduce and prevent harm in a more focused and thoughtful way.
Through partnerships with universities and local organizations, the most recent studies have focused on the following topics:
- Testing the feasibility and effectiveness of an action-plan based intervention regarding gamblers sticking to their limits at pokie venues
- Effects of exposure to gambling and online gaming activities for children and adolescents
- Mapping the social networks of low-risk and moderate-risk gamblers for potentially risky behaviors like gambling and alcohol consumption
Initiatives from VRGF
The most recent initiative to emerge from the research done by the foundation was a program to teach parents how to identify signs of problem gambling and to talk to their children about the issue.
The rollout of the program took place in March at 12 schools in Victoria. In partnership with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, the VRGF targeted parents of children from 12 to 17 years of age at metro and regional schools.
Parents were informed about everything from lingo involved in the gaming community to features of video games and online gaming. This includes information about the technology used for gaming.
The goal has been to identify behaviors that may put young people on a slippery slope to gambling, thereby stopping any problems with real-money gambling before they start.
The results of such a program will be based on long-term studies, but the initiative is a start to address issues in the hopes of preventing problems in the years to come.
Last updated: 08/5/2019
Author: Addictions.com Medical Review
Reading Time: 3minutes
Even without the physical triggers so commonly associated with drug addiction, gambling disorders can wreak just as much havoc in a person’s life. While drug addiction works as a substance-based disorder, gambling addictions have more to do with a lack of impulse control.
Gambling addiction often affects people who also struggle with alcohol abuse.
Gambling Victoria Statistics 2020
Ultimately, it’s the loss of control that defines addictive behavior regardless of the substance or activity involved. Gambling addiction statistics present this “loss of control” factor in a stark and alarming light.
Gambling addiction statistics show how problem gambling can up-end a person’s life in more ways than one. Not unlike other types of addiction, people most susceptible to gambling also suffer from other disorders of which they may or may not be aware.
Probably the most glaring revelation to be had from gambling addiction statistics lies in the consequences that result when gambling disorders go untreated.
1. Gambling Trends
As with all types of data, certain trends or patterns of behavior start to surface within a given population. Gambling addiction statistics are no different. Some of the more prevalent gambling trends show:
- The likelihood of developing a gambling addiction increases 23-fold for people affected by alcohol use disorders
- Over 80 percent of American adults gamble on a yearly basis
- Three to five gamblers out of every hundred struggles with a gambling problem
- As many as 750,000 young people, ages 14 to 21 have a gambling addiction
2. Gambling & Criminal Activity
As far as gambling and criminal activity goes, gambling addiction statistics reveal a direct correlation between the severity of a gambling addiction and the likelihood of committing crimes. Rates of gambling addiction for criminal offenders far exceed rates found among non-offenders. On average, an estimated 50 percent of those affected by gambling problems commit crimes in order to support their addiction.
3. College Gambling
Gambling addiction statistics show people between the ages 20 and 30 have the highest rates of problem gambling.
- 75 percent of college students report having gambled during the past year
- The risk of developing a gambling addiction more than doubles for young adults in college settings
- An estimated six percent of American college students struggle with gambling problems
4. Gambling & PTSD Trends
People affected by post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD live with high levels of stress and anxiety on a daily basis. Gambling addiction statistics show high rates of gambling addiction among PTSD sufferers.
- PTSD symptoms affect anywhere from 12.5 to 29 percent of problem gamblers
- 34 percent of those who seek treatment for gambling addiction exhibit symptoms of PTSD
5. Gambling & Mental Illness
As addictions, in general, alter brain chemical functions in destructive ways, people struggling with gambling addiction have a higher likelihood of developing mental disorders. Gambling addiction statistics show a high incidence of certain types of mental illness, some of which include:
- Depression disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Substance abuse disorders
- Anti-social personality disorder
As with any other type of addiction, a gambling addiction can only get worse when left untreated.