Jennifer Pittorino
Maribyrnong council has confirmed its support to introduce mandatory cashless gambling in Victoria.
During its meeting on Tuesday, April 18, Maribyrnong councillors voted unanimously to pass a motion to confirm its support for the Alliance for Gambing Reform’s campaign to introduce mandatory cashless gambling in Victoria with the Alliance for Gambling Reform.
The motion also detailed council would write to Footscray MP Katie Hall and all Metropolitan Legislative Council members to help protect the Maribyrnong community from gambling harm.
Cashless gambling systems would allow a user to use a poker machine without inserting any cash, which ordinarily involves the use of a card or a digital wallet.
Cr Bernadette Thomas said the reform would help reduce the harm caused by electronic gaming machines.
Enforcing cashless gambling can also limit how much money can be added and allow for self or third-party exclusion from using machines, as well as the ability to provide gamblers with real-time data about their spending.
As a Leadership Council with the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Maribyrnong council has been working to make Australia a safer society by reducing the level of gambling harm.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform are a registered health promotion charity which collaborates with organisations to combat the harmful effects of gambling in Australia.
Cr Michael Clarke said anything that the council can do to support the reduction of harm as a result of these gaming machines will be supported, with Maribyrnong’s history with gambling harm previously among the state’s worst.
“We were at the top of the list,” he said.
There was a net loss of $58,205,122 across Maribyrnong’s electronic gaming machines during 2019.
Cr Jorge Jorquera said this motion was particularly important in the context of the cost of living crisis.
“It’s only getting worse and worse,” he said.
“Gambling has had a great impact on so many families and individuals.
“Putting support behind initiatives like this is a great step forward.”
