EVERY day last year $73,424 was poured into poker machines across the North East.
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Statistics from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation shows in 2008 $26.87 million was pumped into gaming machines at 14 venues in the Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla and Alpine local government areas.
Wodonga residents spent the most with $9.5 million put through the pokies compared with $8.18 million in Wangaratta, $5.45 million in Benalla and $3.73 million in the Alpine Shire.
Despite the extra burden of Christmas and the deepening financial crisis, in Wodonga and Wangaratta the most money was punted on the gaming machines in December, with $865,361 and $780,635 spent respectively.
In the Alpine Shire, March saw the highest amount spent at $371,412, while $495,678 in October was the peak monthly figure for Benalla.
Gambler’s Help co-ordinator and Upper Hume Community Health Service financial counsellor Karin Stahl said high interest rates and increased petrol and food prices could have driven people to gamble in 2008.
“People are in a tight spot and they’re hoping to make money by betting money at the poker machines,” she said.
In Wodonga $38,596 more was pumped through poker machines in December than in November, but Mrs Stahl said the figures did not point to beneficiaries, such as pensioners, of one-off Federal Government bonus payments handed out last month, rushing to poker machines.
She said in October people spent almost as much with $864,778 put through the gaming machines.
Mrs Stahl said for problem gamblers playing poker machines was often an escape from stress in their lives such as grief, anxiety, depression, isolation and financial pressures.
Mrs Stahl said often when people realised they had a problem with gambling they felt ashamed and could find it difficult to talk to family or friends who they may have lied to or hidden things from due to their addiction.
She urged those who may need help with problem gambling to contact a counsellor.
If you need help with gambling, phone Gambler’s Help on (02) 6022 8888, St David’s Uniting Care on (02) 6021 7099, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or G-Line on 1800 633 635.
