Government puts halt to new poker machines
Published Thursday, 17 April, 2008 at 05:30 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
The Bligh Government will place an immediate moratorium on the release of new poker machines state-wide as part of a sweeping overhaul of liquor and gambling in Queensland.
Premier Anna Bligh announced the moratorium today, which will mean no new poker machines will be released to pubs and clubs for an initial two year period.
Ms Bligh said the moratorium – which is part of a raft of new gaming initiatives aimed at reducing the effects of problem gaming – will apply immediately.
“This measure will see a two-year cap on state-wide numbers for both hotels and clubs, creating a more consistent, responsible and regulated approach to machine gaming in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
“As it is, the rate of problem gambling in Queensland is among the lowest in the nation and the revenue the State Government collects from gaming machines has taken a $50 million hit from smoking bans.
“Measures like the smoking ban and the moratorium announced today are proof that this government takes the issue of problem gambling seriously and is prepared to make the tough decisions.
“Active problem gamblers are 0.5 per cent of the entire adult population, but there is no need for Queensland to have more poker machines per capita than the national average.
“Queensland’s per capita average of gaming machines is 0.014 compared to the national average of 0.013 – this plan will bring us into line with the national average.
“This moratorium will mean that up to 2000 poker machines that were planned for distribution will now be kept under lock and key.
“It is proof that the government has listened to community concern and has acted.”
Ms Bligh said under current gaming regulation, a state-wide cap on the number of gaming machines in hotels exists but no such cap exists for clubs.
To complement the new cap on club machine numbers, a reallocation scheme will be introduced after close consultation with industry. The scheme will allow for some movement of existing machines between sites.
“To play our part, we need to understand our own gaming environment, and that means looking carefully at how we can minimise harm.
“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to casinos, clubs and hotels that allow people who have asked to be excluded back into the venue.
“We require venues to match-up their records of excluded patrons with their promotions and rewards databases, to ensure that people who are problem gamblers do not receive material that encourages them back in front of a pokie machine.”
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Media: 3224 4500
Premier Anna Bligh announced the moratorium today, which will mean no new poker machines will be released to pubs and clubs for an initial two year period.
Ms Bligh said the moratorium – which is part of a raft of new gaming initiatives aimed at reducing the effects of problem gaming – will apply immediately.
“This measure will see a two-year cap on state-wide numbers for both hotels and clubs, creating a more consistent, responsible and regulated approach to machine gaming in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
“As it is, the rate of problem gambling in Queensland is among the lowest in the nation and the revenue the State Government collects from gaming machines has taken a $50 million hit from smoking bans.
“Measures like the smoking ban and the moratorium announced today are proof that this government takes the issue of problem gambling seriously and is prepared to make the tough decisions.
“Active problem gamblers are 0.5 per cent of the entire adult population, but there is no need for Queensland to have more poker machines per capita than the national average.
“Queensland’s per capita average of gaming machines is 0.014 compared to the national average of 0.013 – this plan will bring us into line with the national average.
“This moratorium will mean that up to 2000 poker machines that were planned for distribution will now be kept under lock and key.
“It is proof that the government has listened to community concern and has acted.”
Ms Bligh said under current gaming regulation, a state-wide cap on the number of gaming machines in hotels exists but no such cap exists for clubs.
To complement the new cap on club machine numbers, a reallocation scheme will be introduced after close consultation with industry. The scheme will allow for some movement of existing machines between sites.
“To play our part, we need to understand our own gaming environment, and that means looking carefully at how we can minimise harm.
“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to casinos, clubs and hotels that allow people who have asked to be excluded back into the venue.
“We require venues to match-up their records of excluded patrons with their promotions and rewards databases, to ensure that people who are problem gamblers do not receive material that encourages them back in front of a pokie machine.”
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Media: 3224 4500