By Matthew Sims

Hobsons Bay council is spearheading a push for the state government to extend its gambling pre-commitment laws to cover all gaming venues.

The state government has introduced laws requiring gamblers at the city’s Crown Casino to pre-commit to losses and time spent on electronic gaming machines [EGMs].

At its meeting on Tuesday, October 11, the council passed a motion to put a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s [MAV] state council on Friday, October 14 to request it advocates the state government consider expanding these laws to all gaming venues across the state.

Hobsons Bay council MAV representative Matt Tyler took the motion to the state council, with the motion being passed with a vote of 93 per cent in favour.

“Having grown up with a dad horribly addicted to gambling, I was pleased to gain support for this motion from my Hobsons Bay Councillor colleagues and other councils across Victoria at the recent Municipal Association of Victoria State Council,” he said.

“The proposal builds on the Victorian Government’s decision to establish a Royal Commission into Crown Casino, which has set important directions that will have lasting and significant positive impacts across our state.”

Cr Tyler said gambling harm meant more than the financial loss individuals suffer.

“There are significant volumes of research showing links between gambling harm and impacts on relationships, including family violence, as well as impacts on people’s psychological health and wellbeing,” he said.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform has also released a new policy paper calling for the restriction of gambling rooms’ opening hours opening hours to be restricted from midnight to 10am, as part of the launch of its End Gambling Harm After Dark campaign.

Reverend Costello said more needed to be done to protect people who are vulnerable to gambling harm.

“The industry certainly cannot be trusted to act sensibly or compassionately,” he said.

Details: www.agr.org.au