By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM residents are losing money on the pokies at an alarming rate with $730 being spent per person in the municipality.
According to the latest statistics available from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, last November alone Wyndham residents lost more than $7.4 million.
So far this financial year almost $39 million has been poured into the Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs).
In the last financial year $20.6 million was also lost at the Werribee Plaza Tavern, ranking it second in Melbourne for the most amount of money taken through EGMs.
Councillor Cynthia Manson told Star it was disturbing to see such large amounts of money leaving Wyndham.
“That is just terrible. It’s a huge concern to the community,” Cr Manson said.
“I think it is getting out of control and you wouldn’t find that in the eastern suburbs, only in the West.”
Cr Manson said that excessive gambling could have a detrimental effect on residents and the wider community.
“We’ve got to be thinking, where else could that money be going in the community?” she said.
“It doesn’t just affect the gambler, it effects their family and all of Wyndham.
“I don’t have a problem with freedom of choice, but why do we need to have them (EGMs) on every corner.”
Cr Manson said despite her feelings on EGMs in Wyndham, she would continue to approach every application for more machines that comes to the council on a case by case basis.
Visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au for help with problem gambling.
