South Australia’s gambling market has recently celebrated an important milestone, as it has been 20 years since the state introduced pokies into clubs and pubs. Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has taken this as an opportunity to promote is latest pokie reform plan, pushing for a referendum on the games.
Senator Xenophon will introduce a bill to the federal government that will give voters the chance to express their thoughts on the future of poker machines. If successful, the bill will introduce a plebiscite or advisory referendum on the issue of $1 bets for poker machines. “The only way to bypass the incredibly powerful pokies lobby is to go straight to the people,” he says.
“This might give politicians from the major parties the courage to stand up to the lobby.” According to reports, South Australians are the biggest spenders on poker machines. Over the course of the past 20 years, players have lost $12.2 billion on pokies, which equals about $72 000 per hour. Responsible gambling advocates believe that these significant losses are due to the state’s high gambling limits.
Currently, the state government has plans to reduce the maximum bet from $10 to $5. This would bring SA in line with other states across Australia but Senator Xenophon believes that they could take things one step further. The campaign for $1 betting limits is a popular one. Across Australia, several groups are pushing for the introduction of $1 pokie limits in various states, including Tasmania and Victoria.
The limit would reduce losses potential losses to $120, and advocates argue that it would not impede on players’ enjoyment of pokies. In fact, it would really only limit the spending of compulsive and at-risk players. Parliament will be given time to weigh in on Senator Xenophon’s bill.
We will keep you updated with further developments.
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