Poker Machines Mornington Peninsula

  

APL Mornington Peninsula. 888PL is Australia's first integrated online and in venue poker league. Power your passion with us! An ultra-modern home overlooking Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Gambling on poker machines has hit a record high in Queensland since venues reopened, with data from the Office of Liquor. MORE than $34 million has stayed in the pockets of Mornington Peninsula pokies players prevented from getting their gambling fix during COVID-19 restrictions. Poker machine players across Victoria have saved themselves $1 billion. However, the poker machines seemed willing to payout to anyone willing to have a big punt. Had a decent win of $150+ on every machine we played, got to a point where we were looking to find machines we hadn't won on yet! All in all, probably of the better places to go in Rosebud but there are far better places to check out along the Peninsula.

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Mornington

Punters normally blowing money on the Peninsula’s poker machines have saved more than $34 million because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate the Rev Tim Costello said the pandemic had presented residents with an opportunity to rethink gambling and its impacts.

“Australians lost $25 billion gambling last year – the highest rate of losses per head in the entire world,” Mr Costello said. “Gambling harm impacts more people than most of us realise. The stigma associated with it often prevents people from speaking up or seeking help and we must overcome this.”

Reformed pokies addict Carolyn Crawford said going to prison had provided her with the impetus to get counselling and stop gambling. “Even though going to prison wasn’t a good thing, if I hadn’t I might never have (received) the help I required to stop.”

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Ms Crawford urged anyone addicted to poker machines to get help while the machines were shut down. “There is a way out of this terrible addiction. The understanding you gain about the machines is valuable and the money you save will amaze you.”

Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Sam Hearn said the lockdown had effectively created a COVID ‘silver lining’ for the punters. “Gambling-related harm can impact us in ways we don’t always see and can affect our health and community services, education institutions, workplaces and local businesses,” Cr Hearn said. “It can take a toll on our personal lives too, damaging families and straining friendships.”

Gamblers Help Southern welcomed the saving but cautioned that problem gambling was still occurring during lockdown. Chief executive Amanda Murphy said social isolation was proving a big challenge, with some people turning to online gambling to break the boredom. “Just because we are asked to stay home or indoors doesn’t mean we’re safe from the harm of gambling,” Ms Murphy said.

Gamblers Help Southern provides a range of tools and support options to protect the community from the temptation of gambling, offering these tips for online gamblers:

Set a time limit: It’s easy to get lost in online play without the usual routines and commitments filling your day. Think about how much of your time you want to set aside, and once you’ve reached it, get into the habit of switching off.
Set a money limit: When you’re not physically handing over cash or using a bank card, it’s easy to lose track of spending. Keep an eye on your account and remember the extra dollar here and there can quickly add up. There are also many online games available that you do not have to spend money on to enjoy. Choose free games with no micro-transactions or in-game purchases.
Break up your routine: If you’re finding yourself online at the same time every day – maybe after putting the kids to bed or on a lunch break – set a day aside to do something different with that time. Listen to a podcast, message a friend, do a crossword or try some meditation.
Check how you’re feeling: If you’re jumping online every time you’re feeling lonely, anxious or bored, it’s important to try to break the cycle. Plan ahead and have a list of activities ready to go for when you feel like you want to dabble online.
Don’t play for profit: Money is tight for many people right now but this is not a way to make money. Remember, gambling companies are experts at enticing you to spend more and exceed your limit.
Check with your bank: Some banks have introduced gambling restriction options on personal credit cards. The restrictions block gambling transactions, including sports betting, lottery tickets and online gambling.
Delete the app: While it might be easier said than done, deleting the app can help prevent temptation.

For help, phone Gamblers Help Southern on 9575 5353, visit www.gamblershelpsouthern.org.au or email [email protected]

When the pokies were shut off in March this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, recovering addict James* thought it was going to be the break he needed to stop gambling for good.

'For the first month I was using online pokies, until I sort of hit rock bottom and realised I lost nearly everything that we had,' James said.

'When the pokies were shut down it was good because I couldn't go to a pub, the temptation wasn't there.'

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But after four months the venues reopened, the pokies were turned on, and the temptation returned.

'I tried to stay away from them. I honestly thought I was at the point of recovery where I could go have a few beers,' he said.

'As soon as I had a few beers, I could hear the machines. I just thought I'd throw $20 in … a few hours later I was $3,500 down.'

Record spending on poker machines

Gambling on poker machines has hit a record high in Queensland since venues reopened, with data from the Office of Liquor and Gaming showing almost $293 million spent in July and similar amounts in every month since.

That's compared to $161 million spent statewide in February before the machines were turned off.

In some regional areas gambling has doubled, including Mount Isa where $4.5 million was spent in July, compared with $2 million in February.

Cairns saw $17 million put through the machines in July, compared with $8 million in February.

Players in Goondiwindi spent $810,000, compared with $366,000 for the same periods.

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The Alliance For Gambling Reform had urged the State Government to keep poker machines switched off, arguing the forced hiatus created a unique opportunity for industry, economic and social reform.

But on July 10, more than 45,000 approved electronic gaming machines (EGMs) lit up again across the state.

CQ University Professor Matthew Rockloff has studied gambling habits during COVID-19 and said the four-month break had not stopped people's propensity to gamble.

'People haven't taken strong advantage in this break in play,' Dr Rockloff said.

'It is disappointing to see that people are coming back to the machines in such numbers that suggests people are spending too much.'

JobSeeker and JobKeeper spent on pokies

Professor Rockloff said there was no doubt Federal Government assistance payments, such as JobSeeker and JobKeeper, contributed to the spike in gambling on the pokies.

'You should expect that when you have more money available to you, more free money available to you, that some of that will be spent on gambling,' he said.

Lifeline Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland CEO Derek Tuffield said it was common to see an increase in gambling after a natural disaster and the coronavirus pandemic was a similar situation.

Peninsula

'When people are under stress and if they are getting extra cash flow through stimulus payments, people do tend to go to venues and gamble as a form of relaxation,' Mr Tuffield said.

'Also they're hoping that they'll have that lucky win that is going to solve all their financial problems for them.

'We saw that in the 2011 floods here in Toowoomba. With emergency relief payments there was a definite spike in poker machine turnover at that time.'

The charity organisation is now preparing for an influx of people seeking help in the coming months.

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'That's still to come. I don't think we've seen the increase yet, it's still early days,' Mr Truffield said.

'I think, for us, we might see a spike happen in the next three to six months.'

*Names have been changed for privacy.