what a frustrating blue chip, page-15

revenue from pokies back on the rise $2.5b pokies losses up in smoke
By IAN HABERFIELD, Sunday Herald Sun
08jan06

THE losses of Victorian pokies players have returned to pre-smoking ban levels, sparking calls for immediate action to combat problem gambling.

Victorians lost almost $2.5 billion last year.

Smoke-free laws introduced in 2002 triggered a slump in player losses, but the latest figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, show punters lost about $205 million a month.

That brings annual losses a little short of the record $2.6 billion in 2001/2002.

The huge windfall is shared by government ($840 million), venue operators ($620 million), Tattersall's and Tabcorp ($840 million) and the Community Support Fund ($200 million).

Total losses have passed $16 billion since the Bracks Government came to office in 1999. .................