Tasmania: SA-BEST leader backs away from “no pokies” policy

"Pokies" or Poker machines in Tasmanian pubs and clubs have become a key battleground in the state’s upcoming election. Even though anti-gambling campaigner and leader of SA-BEST Nick Xenophon has backed away from the idea of removing all of the Poker machines in Tasmania, the party plans to reduce significantly the number of electronic gaming machines in the state.

The key aspects: 

• a five-year plan to cut poker machines numbers in South Australia from 12,100 to 8,100;
• a reduction in maximum bets to A$1, from the current $5;
• a reduction in maximum prizes from $10,000 to $500;
• removing particularly addictive features such as "losses disguised as wins";
• prohibition of political donations from gambling businesses; and
• the removal of EFTPOS facilities from gambling venues.

The policy would also empower the state’s Independent Gambling Authority to implement and evaluate these proposals. It is targeted at commercial hotel operators; clubs, “community hotels” and the casino are exempt from the reduction provisions.

There are also proposals to cut trading hours from 18 to 16 per day, with the introduction of a seven-year pokie license for venues, from January 1, 2019. Increased resources would go to counseling and support for those with gambling problems.

The policy has attracted the expected response from the gambling industry. The Australian Hotels Association argued the changes would “rip the guts” out of the gambling industry and attack the “26,000 jobs” it claims the industry directly creates.

Based on census data, about 8,000 South Australians experiencing severe harm from gambling. Another 33,100 are experiencing significant harm, and about 94,000 are experiencing some harm.

Most gambling problems (around 75%) are related to pokies, and by far the greatest expenditure goes through them. Nothing has changed in this regard since the Productivity Commission identified this in 2010.

The South Australian Greens, like their counterparts in Tasmania and the Tasmanian Labor Party, want to get all pokies out of pubs and clubs. They argue gambling’s social and economic costs are far in excess of the benefits.