High Cost of Government Sponsored Gambling Addiction

Heat on punting addicts

PROBLEM gambling would be treated as a health issue like smoking addiction under a Coalition plan.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu has pledged to set up a $150 million body, modelled on VicHealth, to help reduce problem gambling if his party is elected.

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation would be responsible to Parliament and the community.

"In the same way that VicHealth has earned the community's trust and helped to reduce smoking, the VRGF will work to tackle the scourge of problem gambling, which damages so many families," Mr Baillieu said.

The Coalition will announce the new body today, trumpeting the move as the biggest funding boost to tackle problem gambling in the state's history.

The $150 million for the VRGF would be spread over four years, and would enable the new body to deliver research and treatment.

The body would also provide advocacy services for communities worried about gambling services.

In the past year Victorians spent almost $2.6 billion - $7 million a day - on pokies, with punters in the battling west losing the most.

Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation figures show more than 26,000 poker machines in suburban and rural clubs ring up almost $5000 a minute. But there had been a slight decrease in the total revenue pumped into state coffers compared with the previous year.