Victoria’s poker machine venues are under fire for dramatically boosting the share of gambling profits they spend on themselves while categorizing these expenditures as “community benefits” to secure tax breaks.
The state’s community benefits scheme says pokies venues must reinvest at least 8.33% of their gambling revenue into community projects to qualify for tax concessions.
But critics allege that gambling venues take advantage of the system by reinvesting in their own facilities like upgrades to golf courses, race tracks and venues.
In the past year, claims under the scheme soared by 30%, rising from $239 million to $311 million.
This coincided with an increase in net gaming revenue—the money lost by gamblers—from $762 million to over $1 billion. Such figures have sparked outrage among public health advocates and government officials, who argue that most of the claimed spending fails to benefit the broader community.
Melissa Horne, Victoria’s gaming minister, acknowledged growing concerns over the scheme’s apparent “misuse” and announced a review.
Pokies venues have been given carte blanche for too long
Pokies venues in Victoria should not be allowed to take advantage of the system, which sees them benefit instead of the community.
But having said that it’s hard to respect the system when it’s outdated and does not encompass online pokies, which are given free rein in Australia
While technically online pokies are illegal in Victoria, there is very little stopping offshore online casinos from targeting Aussies.
Victoria should step up and bring serious discussions about the digital aspects of online gambling into the public consciousness, however we all know the sway Crown Casino and major clubs have over government.
Until the reasons major gambling reform have not taken place in Australia are covered, it’s hard sweating the minor problems like pokies venues playing the system.