Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) are the most common form of gambling reported by clients of Gambler’s Help as the source of their problems. However not much is known about how machines work and what the impact of different characteristics of the machine or game design has on player behaviour.

This topic guide aims to present sources of information for anyone wanting to investigate further the issues surrounding the operation of electronic gaming machines in Victoria and their affect on problem gambling.

The Productivity Commission report on Australia’s Gambling Industries could be considered the bible on gambling in Australia. The result of lengthy public inquiries and review of submissions from every significant stakeholder in the gambling debate in Australia has meant that the Commission could release a document that canvasses all opinions and comes up with potential solutions to the issue of problem gambling. Reviewing the submissions to the Commission will also give a background to views of various stakeholders on a range of issues concerning gambling in Australia.

The VCGR Statistics are the official expenditure figures for gaming machines in Victoria. Expenditure is the "profit" made by poker machines i.e. the real amount lost by gamblers. Figures are available for the state as a whole, divided between the metropolitan or regional areas, or for each local government area (LGA). Historical figures for previous financial years are also available as is monthly figures for the current financial year.

This spreadsheet prepared by the City of Greater Dandenong presents extensive information on a local government basis. The information ranks each measure against other Victorian LGA, as well as providing a graph showing losses year by year since EGMs were introduced in Victoria.

This table presents 2003/04 data for all LGAs in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.

This table presents the share of the state’s data contributed by the SMR