By Peter Douglas
Poker machine gamblers in the Yarra Ranges are among the ‘biggest losers’ in the state, with more than $28 million lost on the pokies in the region over the past financial year.
This equates to around $77,000 lost each day within the local government area (LGA).
Despite relatively few venues in the region, with just nine, the region shows an appetite for gambling that is on par with similar-size regional shires within Victoria, such as East Gippsland ($23 million), Mildura ($25 million) and Shepparton ($31 million).
The recent statistics, released by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, point towards gamblers gravitating towards Lilydale when wanting to play the pokies.
For the Yarra Ranges LGA, 61.4 per cent of losses were recorded from Lilydale venues, with the suburb also possessing the top three venues in terms of money lost on poker machines.
In terms of highest to lowest lost on pokies, the venues were the Crown Hotel, York on Lilydale and The International.
The statistics also showed there were no signs of gamblers slowing down, either, with the region bucking a state-wide decline of 0.27 per cent to record a 0.2 per cent overall rise in money lost from the previous financial year.
However, the $28 million dropped into Yarra Ranges poker machines pales in comparison to neighbouring City of Casey, which recorded $127,093,819.
This figure was second in the state, trailing only Brimbank Shire ($134,141,671.85).
Meanwhile, Cardinia ($27,045,323.57), Knox ($75,061,924.49) and Maroondah ($65,114,897.86) all recorded similar levels to the previous financial year.
Where the money was lost in the Yarra Ranges LGA:
1. Crown Hotel (Lilydale): $7,173,317.81
2. York on Lilydale: $5,703,470.58
3. The International (Lilydale): $4,823,087.36
4. Olinda Creek Hotel: $3,669,071.90
5. Healesville RSL: $2,304,892.94
6. Chirnside Park Country Club: $1,184,068.63
7. Monbulk Bowling Club: $1,639,626.61
8. Upper Yarra RSL: $1,496,112.65
9. Terminus Hotel (Healesville): $856,433.61
