Over $18m lost on pokies for the month of August

The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that over the last eight months this year $124, 256, 821 has been lost on poker machines, with the August pokies losses showing that Tasmanians have lost in excess of $18 million two months in a row.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that these ongoing monthly loss rates just coming in under $20 million per month, were of significant concern and increased the pressure for action to occur on removing pokies from the community.

“In July alone Tasmanians lost over $18 million on pokies, which was a staggering increase of over $2 million from June and unfortunately this trend had continued for the month of August which saw Tasmanians lose $18, 768 513,” Mr Booth said.

“Decision-makers cannot keep turning a blind eye to the flood of hard-earned income out of pockets down the gullets of these insidious machines, action must be taken now to address the negative impact pokies are having on the community and to start weaning government’s off their addiction to pokies revenue.”

“The final Productivity Commission Report was clear that mechanism such as introducing a $1 bet limit, is a responsible first step in taking meaningful action to address the highly addictive nature of pokies.”

“Currently there is a Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Greens’ proposal for a $1 bet limit, which is due to report in November this year, however we have always been clear that while this will be a significant step forward, it will not be sufficient on its own. We will continue to pursue the eventual removal of these machines from the community.”

“Tasmanians have been calling for years for action on pokies, and with shocking losses of over $18 million two months in a row, it is past time that decision-makers heeded this call,” Mr Booth said.

Reference: http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/alls-v/CD36BFC11D136484CA2575E10006E703