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Greater Dandenong has got behind a touring mobile billboard calling for political action to stem the losses from pokies machines.
The billboard visited Dandenong on the eve of the 2018 State Election, decrying that “Victorian pokies losses = $3.2 billion a year. Enough!”
Greater Dandenong and 18 other councils have formed the Alliance for Gambling Reform, calling for $1 maximum bets, less machines in disadvantaged areas and reduced opening hours.
The toll of pokies losses in Greater Dandenong alone was $121 million in 2017-18 – about $333,000 a day.
The moving adboard stopped at Dandenong Civic Centre as well as travelled past some of the most lucrative local pokies venues.
Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea said residents in the council area piled up the highest rate of losses per adult in Victoria.
The impact of pokies included distress, family violence, poverty and homelessness.
“We urge the State Government and opposition parties to support gambling reform to ease
the hardship upon vulnerable residents,” Cr Chea said.