A NEW draft policy addressing the impact of gambling has been released for public comment by the City of Greater Bendigo.
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The Reducing Harm from Gambling Policy draft aims to minimise harm from gambling through supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction.
The draft policy comes after council's 2019 Active Living Census showed that 34.9 per cent of respondents had gambled in the last 12 months with 5.5 per cent indicating they gambled every week.
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Greater Bendigo currently has 11 hotels and clubs that operate 661 electronic gaming machines. The region lost $50,671,968 to EGMs in 2018/19.
Mayor Jennifer Alden said council wants to be a leader when it comes to reducing the effects of gambling on the community.
"The objective of the draft policy is to ensure the Greater Bendigo community does not experience negative social and economic impacts from gambling," Cr Alden said.
"While the new draft policy aims to address the impacts of gambling in all forms, there is a focus on (EGMs) as they are still the most dominant source of financial loss and harm in Australia and their use can be influenced by Local Governments."
"Harm from gambling impacts not only on the individual but also affects family members, friends, local businesses and communities. it was also identified as a public health focus in the City's current Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan and in the new plan currently under development."
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Ms Alden said a 2016 Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation report showed gambling presents a significant burden to the wellbeing of the Victorians.
"Comparisons to other conditions confirm that gambling has an impact in the same class as depression and excessive alcohol consumption," she said.
"A key learning since the previous policy has been that harm from gambling occurs across a continuum from no harm to very severe levels of harm, rather than just to those who are classified a 'problem gamblers'.
To read and have your say on the draft Reducing Harm from Gambling Policy visit www.letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/draft-reducing-harm-gambling-policy before Friday, July 23.
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