Record losses on poker machines

The Victorian State Opposition says gamblers have lost a record 1.53 billion dollars on poker machines over the past six months.

The Gaming spokesman Michael O'Brien says the latest figures to released by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation show a 55 million dollar jump in pokie losses.

He says the losses will continue unless the State Government introduces better problem gambling strategies.

"The number of poker machines hasn't changed in Victoria so what this shows is that gambling companies are becoming far more effective at encouraging people to use them," said Mr O'Brien.

"They've found new ways to get blood out of a stone and the government's problem gambling measures have been shown to be a comprehensive failure."

But the Premier, John Brumby, says anti-gambling measures are having a positive effect.

"I remember when we came to government I think there were fourteen 24-hour venues," said Mr Brumby.

"Today, there's one."

"So, all of the other measures we've put in place, the responsible advertising campaigns, more assistance for problem gamblers, all of those things, have made a difference and it's a difference in the right direction," he said.

News Added: 31 January, 2008

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