State’s poorest lose millions on pokies …

The Tasmanian Greens today renewed their calls for action on pokies, as new State Treasury figures showed Tasmania’s gamblers had lost millions more in February alone.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that, in February, the state’s pokie players lost $16,123,502 on just the 3,700 pokie machines in the state, taking pokie player losses to nearly $230 million in the last 12 months.” [1]

“In March, the Greens called for local councils to have a say on the number and location of pokies in their municipality and have also made clear the need for Tasmania to take a lead on a $1 bet limit,” said Mr Booth.

“These latest Treasury figures make these two options increasingly necessary.”

“What makes these lost millions worse is that it is predominantly low-wage Tasmanians losing this money. The Greens, social welfare agencies and small businesses have long suspected pokies are placed to exploit our most vulnerable.”

“The recent Social Economic Impact Study (SEISm http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/LookupFiles/secondgamblingSEISsummary.PDF/$file/secondgamblingSEISsummary.PDF) showed this was the case, having said that pokies ‘tend to be concentrated in Local Government Areas that have low socio-economic status (SES). Expenditure in low SES areas is significantly higher than in comparison areas. Problem gambling, moderate risk gambling and lower risk gambling are all higher in low SES areas’.” [2]

“Imagine the response to a Government distributing nearly quarter of a billion dollars to some of our most vulnerable people.”

“In fact, the opposite is happening and State Labour is doing next to nothing. Tasmania could take another lead on another social reform issue and implement a one-dollar bet limit and amend the Local Government Act 1993 to give local councils a say on pokies.”

“Instead, Labor, with the lockstep support of the Liberals, professes concern but is happy to take no action.”

“For the sake of our most vulnerable people, the Greens will continue the pokies fight until we succeed,” said Mr Booth.

[1] Reference: Electronic Gaming Machine Expenditure by Rolling Year (here), Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmanian State Government

[2] Reference: Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania: Summary Report (here), p1, The Allen Consulting Group, Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, and the Scoial Research Centre 2011

• CLUBS AUSTRALIA ENDS PRO-POKIES DRIVE BUT MILLIONS STILL BEING LOST

Kim Booth MP
Greens Gaming spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the move by Clubs Australia to end its campaign against gambling reform.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the move by Clubs Australia is a positive signal for the community and all those who want to see action on the millions being lost to pokies.

“It looks like Clubs Australia has taken its foot off the pedal because it knows Federal Labor isn’t serious about pokies reform. The Greens remain 100% committed because it is wrong that Big Gambling continues to profit from predominantly poor people’s misery,” said Mr Booth

“Tasmania should take the lead and introduce a $1 bet limit.”

“New State Treasury figures showed Tasmania’s gamblers had lost millions more in February alone.”

“In February, the state’s pokie players lost $16,123,502 on just the 3,700 pokie machines in the state, taking pokie player losses to nearly $230 million in the last 12 months.” [1]

“In March, the Greens called for local councils to have a say on the number and location of pokies in their municipality and have also made clear the need for Tasmania to take a lead on a $1 bet limit,” said Mr Booth.

“These latest Treasury figures make these two options increasingly necessary.”

“What makes these lost millions worse is that it is predominantly low-wage Tasmanians losing this money. The Greens, social welfare agencies and small businesses have long suspected pokies are placed to exploit our most vulnerable.”

“The recent Social Economic Impact Study (SEIS) showed this was the case, having said that pokies ‘tend to be concentrated in Local Government Areas that have low socio-economic status (SES). Expenditure in low SES areas is significantly higher than in comparison areas. Problem gambling, moderate risk gambling and lower risk gambling are all higher in low SES areas’.” [2]

“Imagine the response to a Government distributing nearly quarter of a billion dollars to some of our most vulnerable people.”

“In fact, the opposite is happening and State Labour is doing next to nothing. Tasmania could take another lead on another social reform issue and implement a one-dollar bet limit and amend the Local Government Act 1993 to give local councils a say on pokies.”

“Instead, Labor, with the lockstep support of the Liberals, professes concern but is happy to take no action.”

“For the sake of our most vulnerable people, the Greens will continue the pokies fight until we succeed,” said Mr Booth.

[1] Reference: Electronic Gaming Machine Expenditure by Rolling Year, Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmanian State Government
[2] Reference: Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania: Summary Report, p1, The Allen Consulting Group, Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, and the Scoial Research Centre 2011 (Links above)