James Packer and Crown Casinos have been granted permission to build a new high-roller venue in Sydney. The plan has attracted a great deal of attention because the new venue will not include any poker machines, but local responsible gambling advocates are still concerned about the opportunities that are available for electronic gaming.
Rather than including pokies, the venue will be permitted to install an unlimited number of multiplayer table games. These games do not include a croupier; the games operate like video poker and pokies with computers determining the outcome of each round. The minimum bets are as follows: – $20 for blackjack – $25 for roulette – $30 for baccarat These same games will be permitted at gaming clubs across New South Wales.
Gaming club owners will be permitted to trade in pokies for these new machines, but responsible gambling researchers have yet to weigh in on their potential impact on problem gambling rates. ''It is subterfuge and it is dishonest,'' says Tim Costello of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce. ''Clubs are really keen on these machines and the casinos love them because they don't need a croupier.''
In New Zealand, a similar issue has arisen. SkyCity Auckland has been granted permission to add 40 of these games to its gaming floor. The Greens issued a press release outlining the potential dangers of these games. Up to 20 people can wager on the terminals at one time, so each game provides multiple opportunities for players to gamble. Although there will be fewer terminals than pokies, it will equate to even more potential harm.
This is what NSW responsible gambling advocates fear. While refusing to install pokies at Packer’s new venue may seem like a positive decision, there is the potential for the alternative electronic games to cause even more harm. As such, some are saying the plan is just ‘smoke and mirrors’.
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