Victorian pokie venues spent $184m of profits on themselves last year for ‘community benefit’

Victorian venues have spent $3bn on operating costs – while claiming a community benefit tax cut – since 2009, according to group No Pokies at Essendon. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Poker machines venues in Victoria spent $184m of gambling profits on themselves last financial year, justifying it as a “community benefit” to get a tax cut.

The same clubs only spent $23,000 of gambling losses on harm reduction measures – designed to protect those who funded their venue upgrades – beyond what was required by law.

The figures, contained in the state gaming regulator’s annual report, are the latest example of a legal tax minimisation scheme that has enraged some councils, public health experts, social service groups and anti-gambling advocates.