A coalition of community sector organisations today called for urgent action to
reduce the harm caused by poker machine gambling in Tasmania.

“This coalition wants poker machines out of local communities,” said St. Vincent de Paul
Society State Secretary Bernard Saunders. “We also want the machines made less
dangerous by limiting the amount of money a person can lose on them”.

According to the most recent monthly data released by the Department of Treasury and
Finance, Tasmanians lost $15.8 million to poker machines during September. This follows
on from losses of $17.6 million in July and $17 million in August. In the past 12 months,
Tasmanians have lost a total of $194.6 million on poker machine gambling.

“We care about people and making sure communities are safe, healthy places to be,” said
Anglicare CEO Chris Jones. “We’re all too familiar with the many negatives associated
with poker machine gambling – family breakdown, divorce, depression, financial hardship,
health problems, interactions with legal and corrective services, work issues and suicide.

Community organisations respond to the needs of people who come to us for help. But
it’s time to prevent the damage from happening in the first place. It’s like addressing a
disease outbreak at its source”.

Poker machines have been allowed to operate in clubs and hotels in Tasmanian
communities since 1997. There are 3500 machines state wide.

“Poker machines are designed to have psychological effects on people,” said Mark
Zirnsak, social justice spokesperson, Uniting Church in Tasmania. “The machines are
programmed to win and are currently allowed to operate with very few measures to limit
the harm. It is morally wrong that poker machines are deliberately placed in some of the
poorest postcodes in the state”.

The coalition called for poker machines to be phased out of hotels and clubs, a reduction
in the maximum bet limit to $1, and a measure to allow people to set an enforceable limit
on their losses.

“Before any further decisions are made about gambling in our state, the Government
must consult the community,” said Kym Goodes, CEO of the Tasmanian Council of Social
Service. “Give people the opportunity to have a say about the number and location of
poker machines, the number of casinos, and the level of consumer protection”.

Community surveys have shown that 80% of Tasmanians view poker machines as a
serious social problem and believe that there should be fewer of them.

The coalition members are: Anglicare Tasmania, CatholicCare, Hobart City Mission,
Launceston Benevolent Society, Launceston City Mission, Mission Australia,
Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, Relationships Australia, Scripture Union of Tasmania, St
Vincent de Paul Society, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Uniting Church in Australia,
Tasmanian Baptist Churches, TasCOSS, The Salvation Army and UnitingCare Tasmania.
A detailed statement about the Coalition’s policy recommendations follows.
Bronwen Hayes (Media and Communications, Anglicare)