VICTORIANS are losing $300,000 an hour on the pokies at pubs and clubs - $2.6 billion in the past year. The losses are $55 million more than in 2009-10 and come as Victorian clubs admit they are spending, on average, 5c out of each dollar of net revenue on direct community benefits.
Some clubs have claimed the cost of darts, beer gas, Sky Racing subscriptions and staff drinks as community benefits.
No club declared spending any money beyond the legal minimum on problem gambling.
Victoria's most lucrative pokies venues are pubs, and the Epping Plaza Hotel brought in the most ($21 million) in 2010-11.
Other top venues were Werribee Plaza Tavern ($20.6 million) and the Plough Hotel in Mill Park ($20.2 million).
Hotels must pay 8.33 per cent tax towards the community support fund, which is controlled by the State Government.
An analysis of documents lodged with the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority show that 5 per cent of club revenue went to direct community benefits.
This includes donations to charity, maintenance of club sporting amenities and subsidised food and non-alcoholic drink for members.
About 1 per cent of pokies revenue was directed to external charitable causes.
Indirect community benefits, which include club operating costs, soaked up 23 per cent of pokies revenue.
Clubs Victoria executive director Richard Evans said clubs were non-profit groups, as distinct from hotels.
"They're very conscious of providing a benefit back to the community," he said.
"They can't take a dividend. They return all their surplus back to the club."
A spokesman for Gaming Minister Michael O'Brien said the rules had been set by the former government.
"(We are) keeping a watching brief on claims to ensure that the scheme is working effectively," he said.
"The revenue that clubs receive from gaming is important to assist them to keep their doors open.
"These funds are used to provide club facilities for members as well as keeping thousands of people in work."
heraldsun.com.au 29 Sep 2011
The government has no interest in the well being of the society, and only in one lowest common denominator, that being revenue.
Other reports suggest that Victorians are spending over $5 billion annually on poker machines.
The poker machine industry is fraudulent, and conducive to drug money laundering.
Many millions of dollars are being transferred via the casinos.
Since the government is raking in the dollars, this industry is unshakable from its foundations.
Anyone trying to take the industry to court will be met with fierce opposition, eventually posing a risk to their well being.
Another fraudulent industry supported by the government .
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