Newcastle's Pokies Problem

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Figures released by the state government and Fairfax show Novocastrians have put $4.4 billion through poker machines in the last year alone.

The rest of the state doesn't fare much better, with $80.33 billion being put through the slots in 2017, which is an $11 billion increase from 2013-14.

 NSW Greens MP and Gambling Harm spokesperson Justin Field says it's simple- "Newcastle and the Hunter have a pokie machine problem."

Over $400 million is lost from the local economy according to the Greens, who say the cost to individuals and families is more than just monetary.

"In terms of relationship breakdowns, domestic violence and even suicide [poker machines] are having tremendous levels of harm on the Newcastle and Hunter community," said Field.

"What we've seen is that the vested interests within the gambling industry have a really tight rein on government. In fact, the coalition government has a signed memorandum of understanding with Clubs NSW to not hurt the pokies' profits of the big clubs."

Mr Field said political donations from pubs and clubs are having a "big impact" when it comes to trying to change gambling culture in New South Wales. He's advocating a cap on machine numbers and limiting maximum bets to $1.

"If we did that, that would go a long way to reducing the impact [of poker machines], particularly for those people who suffer from gambling addiction."

People concerned with their own gambling behaviour, or that of friends and family should contact the Gambling Impact Society NSW or Gamblers Anonymous Australia for help.

Pokies pulling in the big bucks in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The NSW Greens have unveiled just how much communities in the Hunter are being ripped off when it comes to the money being made from poker machines by hotels and clubs.

It's been revealed a staggering $1.1 billion has been put through poker machines at Hunter pubs and clubs during the last three months of last year and only small portion of the gambling income goes back to the community.

They've purchased the data, which wasn't publicly available, and revealed throughout the state in the last quarter of last year the data also found:
- poker machines took nearly $2 billion from the NSW community
- each club-based poker machine removed an average $19,638fromthe community, each hotel-based poker machine removed $28,358
- the average turnover from machines in hotels and clubs is $217,936
-there are an average of 62 poker machines per club in NSW and average 15 machines per hotel.

NSW Greens MP Justin Field says buying the data has brought to light a serious problem in the Hunter.

"And what was seen in Newcastle just in the last three months of last year, $438 million went through poker machines in the Newcastle local government area. That's a loss to the community of $43 million. They're huge figures - we've got a pokies problem in NSW and in the Hunter."

The Greens say the problems with how the industry operates, its transparency and how the money is taxed, needs to be fixed in order to put an end to the societal breakdowns and the huge impact on Hunter families.

"It would be appropriate for more tax to be paid so that tax can be put into services to support those people suffering addiction. At the moment the grants that are provided by some of the pubs and clubs for community projects actually offset their tax liabilities as well so there is a range of problems," said Justin Field.

He also said with such huge figures only a fraction of a per cent of the profits go back into the community through grants "and you can think about how many additional school teachers and  nurses and new infrastructure could be built with that level of money."