Millions of dollars lost in North East after pokies returned post-Covid | The Border Mail

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North East residents lost more than $8.5 million in the four months after pokie machines reopened after the Covid shutdown. Gaming rooms were closed until October 2020 in Victoria, but gamblers were quick to return with $1.1 million dollars lost across 16 venues in November in North East Victoria. New data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation revealed more than $8.5 million dollars was lost to the North East’s 604 pokie machines in the four months post restrictions easing. The six machines in the Rural City of Benalla raked in the most money across November, December, January and February. Gamblers lost about $440,000 across Benalla’s 240 machines in November, $1.0 million in December,…