$1 bet limit would break the back of pokies drain

The Tasmanian Greens today said that the latest pokies loss figures are a welcome story and one that should be pushed further for all of Tasmania by implementing a state-based $1 bet limit on electronic gaming machines.

Greens Gaming Spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the latest pokie figures for Glenorchy follow a similar Australia-wide trend but caution should be taken so that they are not used to hide the fact that Tasmania is still on track to lose 200 million dollars to poker machines this calendar year.

“Tasmania is the perfect candidate for a trial of a $1 bet limit, particularly now that the Federal reforms have largely fallen though. This model of harm minimisation has the endorsement of the Productivity Commission as well as a variety of non-governmental organisations,” Mr Booth said.

“It’s almost unprecedented to see so many experts and social justice organisations so galvanised in their position on an issue and yet Labor and the Liberals believe business as usual for pokies is the appropriate course of action.”

“Federal Hotels are intentionally targeting the lowest socio-economic suburbs for the location of these destructive machines. In a caring society we should be aiming to assist these communities to reach a more equitable standard of living, not driving them further down. It is unconscionable to target those who can least afford it.”

“These machines have been highly engineered, based on a large body of research, for the specific purpose of exploiting addictive tendencies.”

“The Greens will bring on our Bill for a $1 dollar bet limit on for debate in the upcoming Budget sitting session, we will not waiver on this issue.”

“The work completed by the Select Committee on the Gaming Control Amendment Bill 2010 ($1 Bet Limit) demonstrates that implementing a $1 bet limit will only cost around $11 million. This is a small price to pay for the losses that could be saved.”

“We call on Labor and the Liberals to stand up for pokie victims and not their political donors by supporting the Bill.”
Kim Booth MP, Greens Gaming Spokesperson