General News
28 February, 2025
Local pokies losses come to $23,000 a day
Pokies losses in the Central Goldfields Shire rose in 2024 compared to 2023, with over $23,000 lost per day.
Data from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has shown a slight increase in expenditure at local electronic gaming machines (EGMs) of $8.6 million across the shire last year.
This was an increase of just over $370,000 from a total of $8.2 million in 2023.
This data was taken from two licensed gaming venues in the shire, the Maryborough Golf Club with 40 EGMs, and Maryborough Highland Society with 59.
The Maryborough Golf Club saw losses of $1.9 million in 2024, slightly less than losses of $2 million in 2023.
However, expenditure at the Maryborough Highland Society came to $6.6 million, nearly half a million dollars higher than losses recorded there in 2023.
In 2024, an average of $23,287 was lost a day to EGMs in the Central Goldfields Shire, or $163,461 a week.
According to the VGCCC, just over $3 billion was lost to EGMs statewide in 2024, and a total of $7.4 billion lost to all types of gambling (lotteries, casino table games and other wagering).
If you or someone close is struggling with gambling, contact Gambling Help Online’s 24/7 free helpline on 1800 358 358, go to ReachOut.com or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.