The State Government will increase the regional poker machine cap in the City of Whittlesea by up to 25 per cent as part of the Gambling Regulation Amendment (Gaming Machine Arrangements) Bill 2017.

The decision was made to allow for population growth.

Mayor Ricky Kirkham said while it was great the State Government was recognising the growing municipality, more pokies is not what the community was crying out for.

“Unfortunately what we need to see to accommodate growth is more investment in family violence services, youth mental health and road infrastructure – not more pokies that harm communities,” Cr Kirkham said.

In the 2016-17 year City of Whittlesea residents lost more than $107 million.

“Adding more poker machines is only going to increase this loss, leading to more crime and family violence,” Cr Kirkham said.

“Poker machines are a scourge on our community and they come at a terrible cost to our residents.”

Currently the City of Whittlesea is permitted to have 212 electronic gaming machines. Under the amendment the cap will increase to 411.

There are now 110 electronic gaming machines operating in the City of Whittlesea (Bridge Inn Hotel and Whittlesea Bowls Club).

The Alliance for Gambling Reform, of which Council is part of, has called on the State Government to delay its poker machine legislation to allow time for community consultation.

The Alliance’s Pokies Play You national gambling advocacy campaign also seeks regulation of the industry and changes made to ensure that the machines are programmed to offer the user a fair game and not become addictive.

Cr Kirkham added that the campaign will be relentless in the lead up to the 2018 State election.

“We also want to see the maximum bet on poker machines in Victoria lowered to $1 per bet by the end of 2018, complemented by a suite of policies that reduce the harm caused by poker machines,” he said.

“Plus we want regulatory changes to the licensing system for the location and placement of poker machines.”