“Victoria should follow Tasmania’s lead and finally usher in reform. As a society we do not need around-the-clock access to pokie venues.”


Te system is of course also being backed by Andrew Wilkie who said: “Te broad outline of the system is commendable. For instance, that the system will be mandatory and not opt-in, that all players must have a card and that the annual maximum loss can only be increased on application and include an assessment that the gambler can afford to lose more.


“But of course, the devil is always in the detail and there will likely need to be improvements to the pre-commitment system announced. For example, any provision allowing poker machine players to change their daily and monthly limits at venues must not allow for changes to take effect immediately.


“Te system will be an Australian first and put considerable pressure on the territories and other states to follow suit.”


OPERATIONAL HOURS


With the spotlight currently focusing on the pokie industry, some political groups and anti- gambling groups say the changes are still not enough. Tey are calling for tighter and stricter controls in addition to the mandatory pre-


P124 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


Political and anti-gambling groups are calling for tighter and stricter controls in addition to the mandatory pre-commitment card


system, such as lowering betting limits to $1 whilst also reducing spin speeds from three to six seconds, reducing the jackpot to


$1,000 (currently $25,000), prohibiting ‘near miss’ programming and


increasing the RTP from 85 per cent to 95 per cent.


commitment card system such as lowering betting limits to $1 whilst also reducing spin speeds from three seconds to six seconds, reducing the maximum jackpot to $1,000 (currently $25,000), prohibit ‘near misses’ programming, increase the RTP from 85 per cent to 95 per cent, mandate regular machine shutdowns and limiting opening hours for gaming venues.


Te Alliance and Gambling Reform group has


also recently released a policy paper to look at the closing hours of pokie machine venues and they are recommending mandatory closings nationwide.


Te AGR’s four recommendations include:


1. Opening hours of gambling rooms containing EGMs should be restricted from midnight to 10am across the country.


2. With a need for an incremental change to opening hours over time the Alliance urges jurisdictions to initially impose a uniform closure within all venues in the state or territory.


3. Te Alliance requests these changes happen as fast as possible and not be weakened by industry pressure. Tere needs to be a bipartisan support on the issue and should be written into legislation.


4. Tere should be a commitment from state government to provide alternative spaces to fill the need for people using EGM venues as a refuge and safe place.


In the past there have been similar attempts to reduce the opening hours of EGM venues in various states and some states have a shutdown period although the group says these are not effective enough.


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