Greens call for ban on pokies headphone outlets

The Tasmanian Greens called on Treasurer Lara Giddings to commit to a ban on gaming machines with plug in headphones, in line with similar moves by the Victorian Government.

Backing calls today from anti-pokies campaigners for a national ban, Tasmanian Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the technology would cause even more harm to people who are unable control their gambling.

“It’s another method poker machine venues can use to hypnotise their victims before robbing them of their money,” Mr Booth said.

“Headphones further isolate the poker machine addict from their environment, and reduce their ability to control their own gambling by monitoring their losses.”

“Poker machines are already deliberately designed to create the maximum addiction through use of bright flashing colours and sound, which is why the Greens also want plain packaging laws for pokies based on those used for cigarettes.”

“The Greens will be pursuing these measures, while we continue to work towards the implementation of a $1 bet limit and the eventual roll back of pokies out of the community,” Mr Booth said.

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