GTA: Australia has one of the most stringent regulatory environments for poker machines in the world

The Gaming Technologies Association (GTA) said claims made regarding the design of poker machines operating in the Australian market ignore clear facts about the strict legal and compliance obligations of the Australian gaming industry.

“A number of statements have been made in recent days which represent a clear challenge to the integrity of our industry and which are quite simply incorrect.

“The gaming industry, community and government have been working together for many years to create a properly regulated and responsible industry,” GTA Chief Executive Ross Ferrar said.

“Poker machines are a legitimate leisure activity that many Australians enjoy responsibly.

“Let’s stick to the facts. Australia has one of the most stringent regulatory environments for poker machines in the world. Regulators impose comprehensive conditions on every aspect of poker machine design and operation.

“To be clear, State Government regulations in Australia expressly prohibit ‘near miss’ machines and there is no disguising the outcome of any bet. Machines clearly display one of two possible outcomes -- a win or a loss -- for each and every bet.

“Bet limits in Australia are among the lowest, and play speed the slowest in the world,” Mr Ferrar said.

On the issue of changes to maximum bets the Association said this would be the most expensive and least effective way to reduce the incidence of problem gambling which the Productivity Commission report acknowledges is declining.

The cost of transitioning Australian gaming machines to meet just some of the changes put forward ranges from $5,000 for newer machines (21% of Australian total) to $9,000 for machines between 3-5 years old (15%), while those greater than five years old, representing 64% of all machines in Australia, would require replacement.

The total cost of this process would be approximately $3.6bn.

“The question must be asked, who is going to meet this cost?,” Mr Ferrar said.

“Access to direct support and counselling is the best and most effective way to help people with gambling issues, the GTA strongly supports initiatives to direct greater effort in this area,” Mr Ferrar said.