Pokies are back, but it's not all fun and games

Gaming rooms can now have up to 10 patrons at a time, subject to density limits and social distancing.

Every second machine must be turned off, and time in a gaming room is capped at 90 minutes per day.

TABs can reopen subject to COVID-19 restrictions on retail and licensed premises; however, customers must remain seated unless placing a bet, buying food or drinks, using the toilet or accessing the venue.

Casinos can also open up to 10 exclusive rooms with electronic gaming only.

Club gaming rooms and TABs were initially closed in Victoria on March 23, when coronavirus restrictions were introduced.

Shepparton RSL has been able to open for just four weeks since lockdowns began.

The RSL's general manager, Grant Tarrant, said he was looking forward to welcoming familiar faces back to the venue, with COVID-19 procedures in place.

“It's been tough on staff, on members, on guests and veterans not having an outlet to socialise,” he said.

He said he wasn't concerned about the reopening of pokies after months of shutdown.

“Most people understand the landscape in Victoria in regards to responsible gambling,” he said.

“The government invests a lot of money into safe gambling procedures.”

But Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said after witnessing other states opening up, there were "definite concerns" around the return of poker machines in Victoria.

"In Queensland, when machines came back on post-COVID, there was an increase of more than 30 per cent in losses compared to the same time last year,” he said.

"There were also big jumps in Tasmania and NSW.

"Victorians saved $1.8 billion while poker machines were off, which is money that would have been doing a power of good circulating around local economies, including in Shepparton."

With venues closed for most of the year, Greater Shepparton player losses in the year 2019-20 were almost $25 million — $9.18 million less than the year 2018-19.

Rev Costello said he hoped the break from machines had given people struggling with gambling a chance to contemplate how much they were losing.

"Not just financially, but also in terms of relationships, mental health and other aspects of life that are harmed by gambling,” he said.

"These are machines designed to addict people, and not having them on has been a real relief for people who were gambling and for those who had stopped but never felt as safe as when the machines were off."

Greater Shepparton has 329 poker machines, the maximum legal number in the state.

It has the 28th highest pokies expenditure in Victoria.

A Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation spokesperson anticipated a surge in gambling with venues reopening.

"Patrons experiencing a pent-up urge to gamble are likely to be at risk of gambling harm,” they said.

They said while some people found the temporary closure of gaming venues a relief, other gamblers had found it a time of stress, both emotionally and financially.

"Initially, there was a drop in call numbers but service hours with existing clients increased,” they said.

"More recently, there has been an increase in the number of calls to the helpline, presumably because some people have become more anxious or concerned about the reopening of venues and whether they will be able to maintain positive behaviour changes."

● If you're concerned about your own or someone else’s gambling, call the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation's helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblershelp.com.au