Across Australia, more and more local governments are taking steps to change the way pokies are regulated in order to encourage responsible gambling. This week, the Wellington Shire Council has decided to make its own changes to local gaming laws and is waiting for feedback from the state government.
One of the council’s major reforms would change the way in which venues apply for new games. Currently, pokie clubs, pubs and hotels can request new games and the local council will weigh in on whether or not the request should be approved. Now, Wellington Shire Council would like to see venue operators taking more responsibility for this part of the process.
This would give pokie club operators the onus of proving the benefits of increasing the number of pokies at their venues. This would mean that they would have to prove that the new pokies would benefit the community both economically and socially. The Wellington Shire Council will also join the state of Victoria’s campaign for pokie reform.
As part of this reform, the state wants to introduce poker machine pre-commitment, which would allow players to set betting limits before they begin wagering. The voluntary pre-commitment would be introduced into clubs by 31 December 2018, and 2022 for smaller venues. This builds on Victoria’s recent gaming reforms, such as the ATM ban in pokie venues and the use of headphones while playing poker machines.
The state has taken an active approach to reducing potential gambling harms among the local community. So far, it seems to be working, as Victoria has seen a significant decline in problem gambling rates over the course of the past two years.
The state is looking for further improvement, and it is hoped that more reforms will be introduced to promote responsible gambling.
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