Media Release

Saturday, 6 October 2007

CALL FOR POKIES FREEZE
PROFITING A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ENOUGH

There are almost 4,000 pokies in the Fairfield local government area (LGA), the highest concentration in this state, yet clubs and hotels are applying to install even more pokies.

Fairfield has one of the lowest incomes in the state but highest expenditure on pokies[1]:

In 2004 clubs and hotels in Fairfield made total profit of $286,735,565
Fairfield LGA has one poker machine per 36 adult, NSW average is one per 51 adult
Fairfield spends per pokies is $74,399, 50% higher than NSW average of $47,423
Fairfield LGA spend per adult was $2,093 compared to NSW average of $923
Currently there are 3922 pokies  

In the past 18 months six local clubs and hotels have applied for an additional 122 pokies.

“These pokies palaces already leech almost $287m from local residents each year, that’s over a quarter of a billion dollars we’ve lost to pokies” said Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo.  

Cr Ngo says it’s appalling that the clubs and hotels are submitting applications to increase pokies in their premises despite admitting in their Social Impact Assessment (SIA) that the additional pokies will lead to more problem gamblers.  

He says the argument of increase local jobs and taxes to government does not stack up to the harm cause by problem gambling.  According to local community groups gambling has led to serious “additional costs to the community including domestic violence, family breakdown, poverty, child abuse – psychological and physical abuse and neglect, elderly abuse, malnutrition, increased crime, mental health and depression”. 

Currently the Department of Gaming and Racing is assessing applications for an additional 90 pokies.  

Cr Ngo has written to the Department of Gaming and Racing opposing any further increase in pokies for the Fairfield LGA. 

“I call on the Department to establish a freeze on the number of pokies in Fairfield , effective immediately” he said.

 Contact:  Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo – 0410 33 88 33 (m) -   More info www.thangngo.com