The regulator called out a separate venue last year for seeking an extra 10 machines despite only paying less than 2% of the community contributions it was obliged to pay. In 2021, the state regulator called out a venue for not paying about $280,000 in promised community contributions over a decade, despite still applying for more poker machines. That rate is almost nine times higher than the $94 lost per person in Boroondara, one of the state’s more advantaged areas. It loses an average of $801 per adult to gambling each year. The Greater Dandenong city council, on Melbourne’s south-eastern fringe, is one the most culturally diverse in Australia and among the most disadvantaged. While a majority of councils want change, the push for reform was being spearheaded by a handful of mayors who were worried about the harm poker machines were causing to socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, where losses were higher. The gaming minister, Melissa Horne, was contacted for comment. In May, the councils called for the definition of a “community benefit” to be changed to ensure that gambling profits were shared with “genuine philanthropic organisations or charities”, rather than the clubs’ own upgrades. Last month, every council in Victoria supported a motion calling on the government to urgently review the scheme to “ensure that the losses from gambling are directly invested back into community and community-led initiatives”.

I think when they do that, that’s when the problem will be resolved.” “The state government needs to acknowledge its own addiction and its reliance on gambling venues as income. The people of Brimbank experience more gambling harm than any other government area. “I don’t even know how to begin – it’s frustrating and disappointing. “This has been a long-running issue,” Rasic told Guardian Australia. The mayor of Hume city council has made similar calls. The mayor of Brimbank council, Ranka Rasic, said her council raised concerns with the government about the scheme and called for reforms in 2021.

Overwhelmingly, this money is reinvested into the clubs’ own operating costs and upgrades rather than charities and is listed as a “community benefit”.

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