The state of Victoria has taken the lead with regards to poker machine reforms in Australia. While the federal government has backed down from imposing new pokie restrictions, Victoria has implemented its own rules to help protect from gambling harm. Still, local Victoria city councils believe that more can be done to reduce problem gambling rates.
Recently, 14 councils across Victoria have called on the state government to impose stricter rules for poker machine applicants. City councils including Monash, Whittlesea and Yarra have suggested that any clubs or venues requesting new pokie must provide more compelling evidence that the games will not be a ‘detriment to the community’.
The movement comes shortly after Monash City Council went head-to-head with a hotel in Claton over new pokies. The venue wanted to add new gaming machines and council members opposed the increase of games. In the end, the council lost as the hotel was granted permission to install new games. Now, local councils want to make it unnecessary for council members to intervene in poker machine application processes.
They plan on making this possible by asking the state to enforce stricter application guidelines. As such, the state would have to take a closer look at the impact that new pokies would have on the local community and determine whether or not it would be worth it to increase gaming machine numbers. Local gaming manufacturers and club owner have opposed the plan, stating that there is enough gaming regulation in the state already.
It is true that Victoria imposes some of the strictest poker machine laws in Australia, and club owners doubt that any more guidelines need to be introduced. ''The level of regulation over gaming machines in Victoria is the most rigorous and stringent in Australia by a mile,'' says Brian Kearney of the Australian Hotels Association.
''Certainly from an industry point of view we believe that gaming in Victoria is safe and we are committed to complying with the law as it is”.
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