Shaun Hollis, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Yorke Peninsula poker machine players lost over $3 million more in the past financial year than any other 12-month period in the region’s history, setting an alarming new record high.

The steep rise in losses in the YP region was more than triple the state average increase.

Across the three main YP councils, players lost about $22 million in the past financial year — up 10 per cent from about $20m in 2022-23.

Record losses for YP pokies

Pokie players in the Barunga West and Copper Coast council areas — which are combined in the State Government figures released this month — lost about $15.5m, up close to 10 per cent from about $14.1m the year before.

And those in Yorke Peninsula Council lost about $6.7m in 2023-24, up more than 15 per cent from about $5.8m the previous year.

Poker-machine losses continue to rise year-on-year across the state, with more money lost on gambling during the cost-of-living crisis.

Total losses in the past year were close to $960m, up more than four per cent from about $920m in 2022-23 — but that was still about a third of the increase in losses of YP pokie players, which was up about 12.5 per cent.

If you leave out the Covid-19 period, statewide losses have risen steadily each year since the machines were introduced to South Australia in 1994; for example, 20 years ago the total losses were about $720m.

SA Council of Social Services chief executive Ross Womersley said this massive loss of cash from the state’s economy was “essentially unproductive”.

“Imagine what good we could do with that money,” Mr Womersley said.

He said statistics showed 40 per cent of revenue raised from pokies came from people experiencing gambling harm.

Imagine if 40 per cent of customers at a Yorke Peninsula restaurant got food poisoning, Mr Womersley said.

“The restaurant would be shut down immediately.”

The gambling industry had successfully socialised betting into the Australian way of life in areas such as sport and advertising, he said.

“It’s time, as a community, we have a serious talk to ourselves.”

Mr Womersley called for a total ban of gambling advertising, which was recommended to the Federal Government in a recent review of the industry.

There were signs, however, that the government would not follow through with that recommendation, he said.

There are about 260 machines in 15 venues in the BWC/CCC region, while there are about 180 in 16 venues in YPC.

People experiencing issues with gambling can contact the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.  

This article appeared in  Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 13 August 2024.