The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, today released details on the design and implementation of a mandatory pre-commitment system to diminish problem gambling on poker machines.
Mr Wilkie said the tabling of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform’s first report was an important step towards historic reform that will significantly reduce human suffering.
“Australia has almost 200,000 poker machines which are among the most dangerous in the world,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“People routinely lose $1,200 an hour gambling on pokies in Australia because they’re high-intensity machines with high bet limits, fast games, big jackpots and substantial cash load up capacity.
“No wonder 95,000 Australians are problem poker machine gamblers, losing between them a staggering $5 billion each year to pokies.
“That means that in any single day in Australia problem gamblers are losing $14 million to pokies.’’
Mandatory pre-commitment, recommended by the Productivity Commission, will be introduced by 2014 and will require players to set their maximum loss before they start gambling and lock them out when they reach their limit.
“Like seatbelts reduced the road toll, mandatory pre-commitment will save lives and diminish the human tragedy caused by poker machines,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
Mr Wilkie strongly endorsed the report’s recommendation that the Productivity Commission suggestion be embraced that pokies venues be given the option of running less harmful low-intensity machines outside of mandatory pre-commitment.
“These would replace existing high-intensity machines and reduce average losses by 90 per cent due to a $1 maximum bet and other features,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“They would replace high-intensity machines and not lead to an increase in the total number of poker machines in Australia.’’
Smaller venues with 15 machines or less will be given until 2018 to implement these reforms.
Mr Wilkie said the reforms were not unaffordable in light of the pokies industry being willing to introduce voluntary pre-commitment, which would carry a similar implementation cost.
“Nor do they require a ‘licence to punt’ because the 88 per cent of poker machine gamblers who currently bet no more than $1 a game can play the low-intensity machines outside of mandatory pre-commitment,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“I remain delighted with the Federal Government’s cooperation,’’ Mr Wilkie said. “The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, are genuinely committed to reining in the harm caused by poker machines.
“There is no doubt in my mind that from here this historic reform will happen.’’
The report and recommendations can be found at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/gamblingreform_ctte/precommitment_scheme/index.htm
