ACT pokies losses hit $200m despite fewer machines
ACT pokies losses topped $200 million as machine numbers fell.
Canberrans lost more than $200 million on poker machines in the past year, up from just over $190 million the year before. The ACT cut machine numbers from 3395 to 3202.
With fewer machines, each pulled an average of about $63,000 from gamblers. The government wants no more than 1000 machines by 2045 to ease addiction.
Clubs depend on pokies money for food and entertainment. About one in six ACT gamblers show signs of problem gambling, the regulator found.
- Over 200 million dollars
- Total losses this year
- 3202
- Machines in ACT
- About 63,000 dollars
- Per-machine average
- About one in six
- Problem gamblers
Why it mattersHigher losses suggest the policy to cut machines is not working; addiction and financial harm continue despite fewer venues.
AustraliaCanberra residents are losing more to pokies while the government tries a controversial approach that clubs argue is unfair.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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