Across Australia, responsible gambling advocates want to restrict the number of pokies permitted in pubs to make these venues more family-friendly. However, Northern Territory Treasurer Dave Tollner believes that doing the complete opposite will have the same effect. According to ABC News, Mr Tollner has stated that pubs in the state should be allowed to triple the number of pokies permitted on their property.
This would allow them to install 90 games rather than a maximum of 30. Responsible gambling lobbyists are concerned that raising the cap would make pubs and hotels into mini-casinos, which would be unsuitable for family outtings, but Mr Tollner is convinced that the opposite would occur. By installing more pokies, pubs would become less reliant on alcohol sales.
Pubs could focus more on food service, and families would be able to bring their children to these venues without worrying about their young ones being exposed to unsavoury behaviour. “There is a much greater focus on the service of food, the creation of a family-style environment, rather than hotels having to focus on alcohol sales,” he said.
Another benefit of introducing more pokies into pubs is the positive effect that they would have on the clubs physical features. Profits from pokies could fund major redevelopments and renovations that would make clubs and hotels into bigger and better venues that would attract all types of visitors.
Hotel and pub owners welcome the change, but responsible gambling advocates are still not convinced that these benefits would cancel out the negative impacts of introducing new pokies into the community.
Senator Nick Xenephon is especially opposed to the idea, saying: “It actually leads to a tipping point of being a much more conducive environment for problem gambling because of the number of machines, the promotions you can afford to do, and almost a mini-casino atmosphere”.
About the Author
