Gambling is under the local government lens in Knox with residents invited to share their thoughts to update current policy.
Knox council are seeking resident views and experiences on gambling to understand how it impacts the community, to update their policies for electronic gambling machines for the 2025-2028 period.
Although gambling is a legal form of entertainment, it can cause harm to individuals, families and communities. The negative impacts of gambling may include relationship issues, mental health and financial problems. Anyone can be impacted by gambling harm on a short-term or long-term basis.
The council stated in a web release online that in the 2022-2023 financial year, more than $78.3 million, or the equivalent to $614 per adult per day, was lost on electronic gaming machines in Knox.
“Around 36% of pokies revenue comes from people experiencing gambling problems,” it read.
Gambling is a growing industry, with new online products entering the market e.g. sports betting, apps and gambling in video games.
Residents can share their thoughts on various topics, including gambling advertising in sporting venues, public health concerns, consequences of gambling products, and education.
The electronic gaming policy aims to mitigate the negative impacts of electronic gaming, by adopting a gambling harm minimisation approach through various regulatory, education, and advocacy initiatives.
Council’s role and responsibilities include being the responsible authority for assessing planning permit applications for electronic gaming machines in venues, supporting educational initiatives on the risks and impacts of gambling-related harms, facilitating access to non-gambling activities, and advocating for electronic gaming machine reform with state-wide partners.
Community feedback from this consultation will help the council identify gambling harm minimisation priorities and initiatives to update our policy. In addition, they will research emerging gambling issues, including increased online gambling and new gambling products to inform the new policy.
Residents are invited to have their say by 21 August 2024, online or in writing.
www.haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/gambling
Post your submission to:
Impacts of Gambling
Community Wellbeing
Knox City Council
Reply Paid 70243, Wantirna South 3152
Email lisette.pine@knox.vic.gov.au
