Record $3.14b Vic poker machine losses ‘devastating’
7 Aug 2025
Victorians have lost a staggering $3.145 billion on poker machines in 2024/25, fuelled by a massive $115 million jump in losses in just 12 months.
The accelerated annual loss represents the largest year on year jump in losses in Victoria’s history – outside of those figures affected by the COVID shutdown.
And this spike in losses comes in a year where changed venue operating hours should have led to a fall in losses. New uniform venue closing hours from 4am-10am each day were in effect for all but two months of the 2024/25 financial year.
“The new figures are appalling and represent devastating social harm across the state, not just financial loss, but in health and mental health conditions, marriage break up, it exacerbates domestic violence and can lead to severe depression and suicide,” The Alliance’s CEO, Martin Thomas, said.
“This harm is actually becoming more acute as the figures show the number of people playing poker machines in Victoria has halved in the last 15 years. So there are fewer people who are being impacted. It reflects the predatory nature of these machines and the gambling industry more broadly.”
In 2008, 21.5% of the Victorian adult population were gambling on pokies, and the latest report based on 2023 research shows this dropping to nearly single digits with only 10.7% now using the machines. Adjusted for population growth, this means that in 2008 880,000 adults in Victoria were playing pokies, and in 2023 this had dropped to 555,000.
The same report also showed that people being harmed by gambling on pokies are mostly from outside of Melbourne and below the age of 35, putting to bed previous stereotypes of seniors lining up across Melbourne to gamble on poker machines.
Mr Thomas said the Victorian Government should be appalled by these figures.
“While the government has announced a trial of a mandatory, pre-commitment cashless card in pubs and clubs, it is essential that this trial be expedited and that a full implementation happen across the state.”
“There is already ample evidence from the Productivity Commission to the NSW Crime Commission that highlights this cashless card system is the gold standard in reducing gambling harm and tackling criminal money laundering.”
“It is a system that has been successfully implemented at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, now it’s time for the Victorian Government to recommit to implementing the system in all pubs and clubs according to the previous timeline – no later than Dec 2027.”
Brimbank, Casey, Whittlesea, Hume and Geelong make up the top five councils for losses in the last year. Harm in Brimbank and Casey added up to over $450,000 each day of the year. In Hume, losses jumped nearly $10 million in just 12 months.
Only Yarra Ranges, Stonnington and Darebin councils posted small decreases in losses.
Tim Costello, The Alliance’s chief advocate is available for interview.
Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance, 077 340 704