Pokies numbers rise

"The State Government's figures reveal losses at suburban gaming venues between July and September have climbed $32 million from the previous year.

"It means Victoria's army of pokies gamblers is on track to break the 12-month record of $2.56 billion set before the introduction of venue smoking bans in 2002.

"And the Quarterly Financial Report for Victoria shows the Government's three-month gaming tax grab has jumped 15 per cent to $254 million.

"The figures come as a government gambling licence steering committee moves closer to deciding the fate of the lucrative Tattersall's-Tabcorp pokies duopoly..."

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