In Australia, problem gambling rates are soaring, and The Green Party is dedicated to reducing gambling harm across the country. The group fought hard to impose $1 betting limits, but the idea was squashed by the federal government. Now that an election is on the horizon, The Greens are planning to push for pokie reform once again. The Greens are doubtful that Parliament did the best it could when drawing up pokie reform provisions.
While some issues were addressed, many were ignored – and voluntary pre-commitment became the standard of harm reduction. The Greens believe that more can be done to help reduce problem gambling rates through pokie reform, and they are pushing for these provisions to be implemented.
"I'm hopeful that under the new Prime Minister, whether that be Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull…we will see some action in this area and I'm very very optimistic that we will see change," Senator Richard Di Natale. "It's just a question of when that change comes." The Greens are dedicated to imposing a $1 betting limit on all poker machines, ensuring that residents spent less when gambling.
The group believes that this would reduce gambling spending, and that it would have little effect on recreational players. The players that would be most affected by the change would be problem gamblers, who would be forced to spend less money over time. The group also wants to see pokie jackpots reduced to $500. This would reduce the lure of gambling, and prevent addicted players from chasing big paydays.
The Greens have been dedicated to pokie reform for quite some time, and they have yet to give up their goal. The federal election presents them with the ideal opportunity to make their voices heard this time around.
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