The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) congratulates the ACT Labor Government on delivering on its election commitment to tackle gambling harm, welcoming a reform package that sets a new national benchmark for poker machine harm minimisation.
AGR Chief Advocate Rev. Tim Costello said:
"These reforms are nation-leading when it comes to tackling the harm caused by poker machines in our communities. It is great to see a government willing to stand up to vested interests and take meaningful action on gambling harm.
We hope every state government in the country follows suit to tackle poker machine harm with the same seriousness."
AGR supports the ban on ATM and EFTPOS cash withdrawals at venues with poker machines, simpler and stronger self-exclusion arrangements, the long-term reduction in poker machine numbers, and measures to help clubs build business models that rely less on gambling revenue.
However, AGR is concerned that the reforms do not go far enough in relation to mandated loss limits, legislating breaks in play, and reducing shutdown periods.
AGR urges the Government to strengthen the package, before it is introduced to Parliament, by:
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Legislating mandatory loss limits – widely regarded as the gold standard in preventing poker machine harm
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Mandating enforceable breaks in play, rather than leaving these as discretionary
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Extending poker machine shutdown periods - research consistently shows gambling harm is concentrated after midnight.
Mr Costello said cashless gaming was not a harm reduction measure in itself.
"Cashless gaming only works as a harm reduction measure if it includes mandatory safeguards such as loss limits and enforced breaks in play," Mr Costello said.
"We also call for a central monitoring system that allows safeguards to follow a person between venues. Otherwise, a person can move quickly between venues and work around any loss limits or breaks in play."
AGR looks forward to consulting with Minister Paterson and the ACT Government on the rollout of these reforms, and to working together to strengthen the legislation to build a national model for reform.
About us:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation working to reduce gambling harm in Australia. We partner with other organisations and with local councils to reduce the alarming level of gambling harm in Australia, we work to change the laws and rules governing the gambling industry. We do not seek to ban gambling. Rather we seek to influence government to minimise the harmful behaviours of the gambling industry and to give voice to those who are impacted by gambling harm.
Contact details:
For media enquiries, please contact Mark Kempster (0400 311 113) or Tim Costello (0411 633 446). See here for a gambling language guide for journalists.