In the fight for pokie reform, The Greens have become well-known for their commitment to introducing $1 betting limits. The party’s plans failed on a national level, and they were not well received in Tasmania. Now, The Greens have set their sights on the Victorian gambling market, and they hope to introduce a law in the state that will limit punters to spending only $1 per spin on pokies.
Charles Livingstone has written a piece for The Conversation on the topic. He notes that the bill is not very likely to pass, but it will open up a dialogue about potential betting limits on pokies. Politicians across Australia have dismissed the effectiveness of this measure, but it can prevent players from chasing losses and spending more than they can afford on pokies.
It is important to raise awareness of this fact, and that’s what The Greens aim to do. Currently, there is a $5 maximum bet on the 30 000 pub and club pokies in Victoria. As such, each machine can only bring in $600 per hour. This is significantly lower than in other states like NSW, where players can wager a maximum of $10 per bet. If each machine rakes in $1200 an hour, it amounts to billions over the course of a year.
The $1 betting limit would reduce these losses and help at-risk players keep their spending under control. “It is highly likely to reduce the harm experienced by gamblers and limit the uptake of new problem gamblers,” Livingstone writes. “After all, chasing huge losses is one of the common early stages in a problem gambling career.”
Of all the states, Victoria is likely to be the most responsive to the bill. Over the course of the past year, the state has introduced several safeguards aimed at protecting players from the potential risks of gambling. If any state were to give the $1 betting limit a chance, it would be Victoria.
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