July Pokies Losses Close to $20M
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today Tasmanian poker machine losses have sky-rocketed to close to $20 million for July.
“Department of Treasury and Finance figures show $19,428,375 have poured into the machines in July – that’s $626,721 per day,” Ms Webb said.
“That’s an increase of more than 28% compared to February, before COVID-19 struck our state. It’s an increase of 26% on the figures from July 2019 and a 19% increase on the daily figures for the first five days in June, which were horrifying enough.
“These figures show poker machines are being used as harmful and dangerously expensive stress relief.
“On these figures, we can estimate a total of around $40 million lost to poker machines in Tasmania since they were switched back on nine weeks ago.
“That’s $40 million delivering comparatively very little economic value to our State or our hard-working, struggling local businesses.”
Ms Webb called on the State Government to close gaming rooms in all Tasmanian venues until our social and economic conditions have stabilised.
“We need a substantial and targeted public education campaign on poker machine gambling in the context of COVID-19. We need a new, targeted, proactive outreach support program to connect with new pokies gamblers or have resumed problematic gambling on pokies.
“The Government needs to commit to legislating evidence-based, expert recommended harm minimisation measures, including slower spin speeds, lower maximum bet limits, lower maximum jackpots and shorter opening hours.”
Ms Webb said the almost $20 million pokies losses make a mockery of the Gutwein government investing $20 million of our limited state resources into its Small Business Sustainability & Recovery Assistance Package.
“The Premier must explain how his decision to switch poker machines back on fits with his constant claims that the health, safety and well-being of Tasmanians is its top priority and that decisions being made are ‘safe, sensible, and in the best interest of our State’.
“Before switching the machines back on he had clear evidence that reopening gaming rooms would be detrimental to Tasmanian families, small businesses and the state economy, but he did it anyway.”
Poker Machine Losses
| Period | Total losses | Per day average | Increase in losses per day |
| July 2020 | $19,428,375 | $626,721 | |
| June 2020 | $2,629,313 | $525,862 | 19% |
| February 2020 (29 days) |
$14,166,956 | $488,515 | 28% |
| July 2019 (31 days) |
$15,412,281 | $497,170 | 26% |
| 2018-19, whole year | $171,603,745 | $470,147 | 33.3% |
(These figures are player expenditure, which is specified as the total amount wagered less the total amount won)
Figures by local government area
| Municipality | Jul 20 | Jul 19 | Increase |
| Combined Municipalities | $2,028,503.69 | $1,685,457.25 | 20% |
| Burnie | $754,517.12 | $673,701.47 | 12% |
| Central Coast | $752,973.60 | $590,212.23 | 27% |
| Clarence | $974,906.68 | $850,210.84 | 14% |
| Devonport | $1,124,142.40 | $965,640.78 | 16% |
| Dorset | $89,117.83 | $108,676.24 | 18% decrease |
| Glenorchy | $2,271,439.73 | $1,881,564.11 | 21% |
| Hobart1 | $438,010.31 | $390,990.51 | 12% |
| Launceston1 | $1,782,476.57 | $1,460,109.94 | 22% |
| Northern Midlands | $119,867.64 | $112,018.84 | 7% |
| Sorell | $311,638.14 | $271,449.06 | 14.8% |
| Waratah-Wynyard | $548,489.99 | $529,503.43 | 3.6% |
| West Coast | $145,045.94 | $140,602.13 | 3.1% |
| West Tamar | $194,079.60 | $207,660.72 | 6.5% decrease |
| Total | $11,535,209.24 | $9,867,797.55 | 16.9% |
| Combined Casinos | $7,893,166.12 | $5,544,483.21 | 42% |
| Totals | $19,428,375.36 | $15,412,280 | 26% |
1 – Excludes casinos in these municipalities
https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/legislation-and-data/gambling-industry-data/electronic-gaming-machine-expenditure-by-municipality
