Warrnambool council scraps gambling policy as poker machine losses near $25.6 million a year

Warrnambool residents lost more than $25.5 million through poker machines in the 2025-26 financial year, but the council has decided to scrap the policy it introduced to limit the harm of electronic gaming machines in the city.

What happened: Councillors voted 5-1 on Monday night to revoke the Warrnambool Gaming Policy after determining it had become “ineffective”, citing the fact decisions about electronic gaming machines are controlled by the state-run Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, leaving council with little influence.

What was it meant to do? The council’s policy, adopted in 2011, was intended to outline its position on gambling and limit the impacts of poker machines in the community.

• However, an internal report found it had delivered little practical benefit because regulation sits with the state.

• While the council's planning scheme and public health strategies now provide more effective ways to address gambling harm, the policy could not directly impact the amount of gaming machines.

• Council chief executive Andrew Mason said the council would continue addressing gambling harm through its Healthy Warrnambool Plan 2026-29 as well as broader public health initiatives.

Warrnambool’s losses: Councillor Debbie Arnott described the city’s gambling losses as “horrendous”, noting all 234 gaming machines across Warrnambool's eight venues were currently operating.

“The losses are on track for $25.56 million this year, up 5.5 percent from the previous year,” said Arnott. “If you break it down it's nearly $500,000 a week that goes through gaming machines.”

Not doing enough: Councillor Willy Benter was the lone dissenting voice opposing the recommendation, arguing the policy should have been reviewed rather than abandoned.

“We have direct policies for a lot of other things in this town, but not for this. We’re going to revoke it now,” he told the meeting.

• Benter said the Healthy Warrnambool plan didn’t “go far enough” to address the city’s issues of gambling harm.

“Yes it’s in our health and wellbeing plan, but there’s no clear 100 percent direction.”