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Have your say on the draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy

Every day, an average of $217,000 is lost to electronic gambling machines in Knox.

Although gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment, research consistently shows that it can cause significant harm to some individuals, families and communities. The negative impacts of gambling may include relationship issues, mental health and financial problems. Anyone can be impacted by gambling harm on a short-term or long-term basis.

We have developed a draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy to set out how we will minimise gambling related harm in Knox.

Read the draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy.

The draft Policy was shaped by your feedback from the phase 1 consultation in August 2024.

We are checking in to confirm that the draft Policy reflects your input. Have we got the draft Policy right? Does it include what matters most to you?

Council is developing a new Gambling Harm Prevention Policy to replace the Electronic Gaming Machine Policy 2020-2023.

The new policy aligns with and responds to the key health and wellbeing priority ‘Reduce harm from alcohol, smoking, vaping and gambling’ outlined in the Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025–2029.

The draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy sets out how we will minimise or prevent health, social and economic harms associated with gambling in the Knox community through four key priority areas:

  • planning and regulation
  • building community capacity
  • leadership
  • advocacy.

The draft Policy was shaped by your feedback taken during phase 1 consultation in July and August 2024. Over this period, we received 106 survey responses.

You told us that electronic gaming machines and online betting are significant concerns across the community. Other key themes were:

  • Gambling advertising contributes to the normalisation of gambling.
  • The addictive nature of gambling, particularly electronic gaming machines and online gambling.
  • The accessibility of gambling, both online and through electronic gaming machines.
  • The impact of gambling harm on vulnerable populations, particularly children and young people.
  • There is strong support for Council taking an active role in preventing gambling harm and providing leadership in this area.

How to have your say

Share your feedback before midnight on Wednesday 22 October 2025. You can share your thoughts online, by email, in writing or by chatting over the phone.

Online

  • Complete the survey below.

In person

Email

Phone

  • Provide your feedback over the phone during business hours by calling Marni Ford on 9298 8415 or Melissa Roche on 9298 8861.

In writing

  • Mail your submission to: Draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy consultation, Knox City Council, Reply Paid 70243, Wantirna South 3152.


Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Phase 1 Community engagement

    August 2024

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Review of feedback and development of the draft Policy

    Early 2025

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Draft Policy submitted to Council for consideration

    Monday 29 September 2025

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Phase 2 Community engagement on the draft Policy

    Wednesday 1 October to Wednesday 24 October 2025

  • Timeline item 5 - active

    Review of feedback and finalise draft Policy

    Late 2025

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Presentation of final Policy to Council for endorsement

    Early 2026

Engagement plan summary

To develop a Gambling Harm Prevention Policy that aligns with state government legislation, community aspirations and public health principles.

  • Community and stakeholder feedback.
  • Research, benchmarking and review best practice across local and state government.
  • Our policy must be in line with the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 and the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
  • The final endorsement of the Gambling Harm Prevention Policy will be by Council in a public meeting.

Residents within the Knox community and service providers.

For this project we will be engaging our community at the level of Consult on the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum.

This means we will listen to what you say and consider it when we make a decision.

Most other parts of the Policy are able to be influenced by community feedback.

  • Scope of the Policy
  • Legislated parts of the Policy
  • Council's gambling harm minimisation approach
  • Major changes to the key priority areas.

Contact us

Find out more about the draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy and this engagement.

Contact Information
Name Community Strengthening team
Phone 03 9298 8415
Email melissa.roche@knox.vic.gov.au