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.
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 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)