Gambling Harm in Hume

Gambling harm disproportionately affects the Hume community. In the 2022/23 financial year, we witnessed our highest recorded losses to electronic gaming machines (EGMs) to date − a staggering $139 million. Hume City was the fourth highest LGA for EGM losses in Victoria.

As a proud testament to our commitment to combat gambling harm, Hume City Council has been actively working on several initiatives.

We've heard the valued voices, experiences and thoughts of our residents through a community survey.

We've engaged with community service providers by holding a workshop to learn more about the gambling harms they witness in the Hume community, and to understand what we can do to support their important work further. 

We held our inaugural Gambling Harm Symposium which brought together distinguished keynote speakers and those with lived experience of gambling harm to address the challenges and solutions in tackling this important issue.

All the valuable insights gathered from the survey, workshop, and symposium will inform Council's review of the Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy, which will commence in 2024.

Hume City Council looks forward to the implementation of the next steps of State Government reforms that will ensure all EGMs in Victoria require mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play, load-up limits, and slowing of machine spin rates.

See below for more details on everything we have been working on.

Gambling Harm Symposium 2023

We're proud to have furthered our gambling harm reform efforts by hosting our first Gambling Harm Symposium.

On Monday 2 October 2023, we brought together distinguished keynote speakers and those with lived experience of gambling harm to address the challenges and solutions in tackling this important issue. The event sent a strong message on Hume’s advocacy for change.

Hume City Council looks forward to the implementation of the next steps of State Government reforms that will ensure all EGMs in Victoria require mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play, load-up limits, and slowing of machine spin rates.

We will continue to advocate to the State Government for strong reforms that help minimise gambling harm across Hume City. Because ultimately, no win is worth it. 

Event agenda

Gambling-Harm-in-Hume-Agenda.pdf(PDF, 37KB)

Event keynote speakers

Cr Joseph Haweil

Event MC, Mayor of Hume City.

Dr Charles Livingstone

Associate Professor, Monash University

Dr Lauren Gurrieri

Associate Professor of Marketing, RMIT University

Fran Thorn

Chair, Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission

Tim Costello

Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform

Three Sides of the Coin

Lived experience storytellers performing their stories of gambling harm

Cameron McLeod

CEO, The Huddle

 

Gambling Harm Community Survey

Gambling has a significant impact on the Hume community.

We surveyed our community to learn more about their thoughts, feelings and lived experiences with gambling harm.

Their responses will help inform Council policy and advocacy for the community. In particular, information from the survey will be used by Council to respond to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission when the state government considers applications to increase or transfer electronic gaming machines (pokies) within Hume. 

 

View a summary of findings here(PDF, 61KB)

 

Gambling Harm Service Provider Workshop

We've engaged with community service providers by holding a workshop to learn more about the gambling harms they witness in the Hume community, and to understand what we can do to support their important work further.

See a summary of findings here(PDF, 54KB)