Pokies

By Lia Bichel
A LANDMARK policy adopted by Casey Council last week aims to halt problem gambling in the municipality.
A report on the policy was discussed at a Casey Council meeting last week and immediately brought into operation.
The policy precludes the purchase and any new pokie machines on council-owned land.
Springfield Ward Councillor Sam Aziz said it was a historical turning point for the City of Casey.
“One of the things the policy now mandates is that there will be no new pokie machine on council land. In the past, we had no policy in that regard. “So as our city’s population grows, there will be no new machines,” Cr Aziz said.
“It’s a landmark decision that represents a marked philosophical and principle shift.
“We stand with them (residents) in opposition to gaming machines on our land, which is their property.”
Cr Aziz said ridding the city of pokie machines had been a “long time passion” which he advocated during his election campaign.
Cr Aziz said he was proud to see the policy adopted by the council and added that it was a first step in combating the municipality’s growing gambling problem, which he believed had skyrocketed in the past 17 years.
“I made it one of my priorities to control the spread of these monsters in Casey. It’s a huge problem.
“In 1993, people in Casey spent $3million on gambling. In the last financial year, people in Casey spent $119 million,” he said.
“Basically, we can’t afford to have this sort of temptation here. Pokie machines do not add quality to life, it just destroys families and homes.
Cr Aziz said he expected the only negative feedback about the new policy to be from owners of pokie machine venues.
“When there are tens of thousands of people who can be harmed, I am not concerned about any negative feedback,” he said.
Cr Aziz said the council would continue to advocate the government for increased support for a gamblers helpline in the south-east and to cap the amount of machines in some at-risk areas of Casey.