In Victoria, poker machines will soon be equipped with technology that limits the amount of money that players can spend on the games. While the solution aims to reduce problem gambling rates and overall gambling spending, some experts are dubious about how effective this initiative will really be.
According to a report in The Age, poker machine players can set a limit on how much money or time they plan to spend on pokies. However, even when they reach this limit, they will be allowed to continue wagering. Gambling researcher Dr Charles Livingstone has criticised this lax approach, calling it a ‘snooze button’. The ‘Your Play’ system will operate with player cards.
They will insert the card when they begin gambling, and set their spending or time limit. When they have reached either limit, they will be asked if they wish to continue. Players will even be able to set their own messages, such as ‘go home’ or ‘what about your kids?’. Warnings will also be issued when players reach 70% or 90% of their limits.
The issue that responsible gambling advocates have with the system is that it allows players to continue gambling. They are asked if they would like to continue spending money, instead of simply locking them out of the game to prevent them from gambling any more. Reverend Tim Costello of the Australian Churches Taskforce compares it to having "voluntary brakes in a car".
However, Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett defends the system. She states that it is about raising awareness of responsible gambling: "The prompts are designed to make people think about their choices. It takes time and effort to resume play once the machine has been shut down. That's a powerful signal to stop."
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