Last week, The Greens presented Labour with a compelling case in support of imposing $1 betting limits on poker machines. The political party wanted to trial the technology in Tasmania, but the Labour government refused the proposal.
“It is deeply disappointing that both the Labor government and the opposition have rejected a call to introduce a $1 bet limit on pokies in state Parliament on May 22,” writes Mark Zirnsak, Director of Victoria and Tasmania’s Justice and International Mission. The Greens have been pushing $1 betting limits since pokie reform was introduced several years.
Members of the group feel that $1 limits would be far more effective than voluntary pre-commitment, which gives players the option to set their own limits. Since voluntary pre-commitment is being rolled out across the country, The Greens hoped that Labour would trial the technology in Tasmania alone. The state has one of the highest incidences of problem gambling, with problem gamblers accounting for 22.9% of all gambling spending.
“A $1 bet limit would be a well- targeted measure to reduce problem gambling while having little impact on the behaviour of recreational gamblers,” Zirnsak continues. The Greens are concerned about the potential negative effects of problem gambling. Martial problems and financial issues are among a number of difficulties that arise as a result of gambling addiction.
The political party believes that they can help to improve the lives of local residents by reducing gambling spending. Unfortunately, Labour does not feel the same way. It seems as though the group believes that voluntary pre-commitment will do an adequate job of reducing problem gambling rates across the country.
The technology is expected to be rolled out over the course of the next year, and players will be able to set their own betting limits while they play pokies in pubs and clubs.
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