WIMMERA punters have lost more than $19.5 million in the past financial year through electronic gaming machines.
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New data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation shows pokie losses topped $19.56 million in 2014-15 from machines throughout Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire and Ararat Rural City.
In Horsham, gamblers lost $9.53 million from 148 machines at Horsham Sports and Community Club, Horsham RSL and West Side Horsham.
The amount was $33,085 more than the previous financial year.
The city’s biggest loss was $5.78 million from 78 gaming machines at Horsham Sports and Community Club.
Club manager Glenn Carroll said gaming machine profits went towards Wimmera community groups.
“The club is set up to distribute all profits, after trading costs, to the community,” he said.
“Last year we gave away more than $180,000 for the purpose of benefiting the region.”
Gambling losses plunged in Ararat Rural City and Northern Grampians Shire.
Northern Grampians residents spent $4.77 million in 2013-14, which was $98,358 less than the previous financial year.
The shire has 78 gaming machines at Stawell Harness Racing Club, Town Hall Hotel Stawell and St Arnaud Sporting Club.
Ararat Rural City gamblers lost $5.26 million from machines at Ararat RSL and Chalambar Golf Club, which was $214,406 less than 2013-14.
It was the second consecutive year both municipalities recorded a decline in gaming machine losses.
Mr Carroll said staff actively encouraged anyone with a problem with gambling to seek help.
“We regularly have support workers here in the venue,” he said.
“We refer anyone we see with an issue directly to Grampians Community Health or Wimmera Uniting Care.”
Horsham’s biggest loss in the past decade was in 2008-09 when gamblers spent more than $9.63 million.
In 2014-15, Victorians lost $2.57 billion on gaming machines, which was a 2.7 per cent increase from 2013-14.
However there has been a 24 per cent decline in pokie losses since 2000, which is attributed to a ban on smoking in venues in 2002 and removal of ATMs in 2012.
There are no pokies in Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh or West Wimmera shires.