Criticism Queensland’s Gambling Red Tape Reduction Plans

The Queensland government is making plans to reduce the red tape in the state’s gambling market, in order to give gaming industry professionals more freedom. While the plan aims to benefit the economy, not everyone is pleased with the idea of red tape reduction. The Anglican Church Southern Queensland's Social Responsibilities Committee has released a new report on the plan, which outlines a number of concerns.

This includes, money laundering, organised crime, an increase in gambling risk and potentially damaging the reputation of the state’s gambling market. One of the major changes to the gambling market would allow operators to increase the amount of money that can be won on a single game. It would also increase the number of pokies that a single venue can operate.

This follows the state previous increase on betting limits. Previously, players could only wager with a maximum of a $20 bill. Now, players can wager $50 and $100 bills. Welfare groups are concerned that these limit increases will increase gambling harm. They believe that there will be more opportunities for players to spend more than they can afford on pokies.

The groups also believe that the influx of more gaming machines and spending will lead to an increase in money laundering, which comes hand-in-hand with organised crime. "The recent changes under the guise of red tape reduction by the Newman Government is basically taking a step backwards in terms of minimisation of harm," says gambling researcher Charles Livingtone.

"All other Australian states have actually been gradually implementing incremental reforms which have over time started to reduce the pattern of harm which is associated with poker machines”. Queensland Premier has spoken out against these claims. He is aware that the increases could result in an increase in gambling spending; however, the government plans to implement safeguards in order to reduce gambling harms.