Check out what we've been doing in the gambling harm space and see what we've achieved

Background

Gambling has a significant impact on the Hume community. In the 2022/23 financial year, we witnessed our highest recorded losses to electronic gaming machines (EGMs) to date − $139 million. Hume City was the fourth highest local government area for EGM losses in Victoria.

We surveyed the community to learn about their views and experiences relating to gambling. We also held a workshop with service providers who see people affected by gambling.

This has been used to help inform Council policy and advocacy for the community. In particular, information from the survey will be used by Council to respond to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission when the state government considers applications to increase or transfer electronic gaming machines (pokies) within Hume.

What we did

In 2023, Council undertook a series of activities and consultations aimed at understanding how gambling is impacting our community. These included:

  • Conducting a Community Gambling Attitudinal Survey
  • Facilitating a Service Provider workshop on gambling harm in Hume
  • Hosting Council’s inaugural Gambling Harm Symposium
  • Submissions to various state government consultations and inquiries on gambling matters

We thank everyone for actively participating in these consultations. The feedback we received was invaluable, and the insights have provided Council with a deeper understanding of the impact gambling has on our community.  The engagements in the consultation process have been instrumental in shaping our approach to addressing gambling harm in Hume.

What we heard

We heard from 752 community members who filled out the survey. We found out that males are more likely to gamble than females and that buying a lotto ticket is the most common form of gambling followed by playing electronic gambling machines. We've created a summary about what we heard.

Council invited service providers to a workshop in June 2023. We heard about the types of gambling they are seeing and the harms and impacts that their clients are experiencing. We've created a summary about what we heard.