IN THE NEWS – POKER MACHINE REFORMS IN SA AND VIC
The VIC government delays player cards and gambling limits in clubs and pubs, and the Greens have called for the removal of poker machines completely in SA
VIC Pokie Reform Delayed as Budget Reaps $800 Million Windfall
The Victorian government has quietly pushed back its plans to roll out poker machine reforms aimed at helping problem gamblers – a delay that’s set to bring in an extra $800 million to the state budget.
Originally introduced in legislation last year, the reform would require players to use cards to set gambling limits. While the system is already in place at Crown Casino following a royal commission, its expansion to clubs and pubs across the state has now stalled.
The trial phase, intended to launch mid-2025 at 40 venues, has been shelved without public notice. Although the government maintains it’s still committed to the reform, it now appears a new technological approach and slower rollout are being considered, potentially influenced by industry calls to explore alternatives like facial recognition.
The delay has sparked backlash from gambling reform advocates and even some within the Labor Party. Critics argue that the decision undermines efforts to reduce gambling harm, especially in low-income communities. They also point out the timing as the delay coincides with a projected $600 million budget surplus, a figure boosted by increased gambling tax revenue.
The government insists the reform will proceed once legislation passes the upper house.
SA Greens push for pokie-free state by 2030…again
As the South Australian Government gears up to release its State Budget, the Greens are turning up the heat with another push to eliminate poker machines within the next five years. Spearheaded by Greens MLC Robert Simms, the proposal lays out a comprehensive roadmap to rid South Australia of pokies by 2030. This conforms to the Greens party policy, outlined many years ago, with the aim to remove poker machines Australia wide.
In a letter addressed to Treasurer Stephen Mulligan, Simms detailed a suite of proposed reforms. These include halting the approval of any new machines, introducing a dedicated transition fund to assist pubs and clubs in moving away from poker machine reliance (similar to ACT reforms under a greens-controlled state government), and increasing the flat tax on all existing machines to 65 per cent.
The Greens have always expressed the urgency of this reform. In place of gambling revenue, the Greens’ budget submission outlines several alternative funding sources including cutting financial support to fossil fuel industries and introducing a levy on major banks.
The Greens policy has been before the South Australia’s upper house before and has been denied. The path to reform will require cross-party negotiation and this is not expected to favour the Greens policy position in SA again.
Sources:
Allan government plans to help poker machine punters and gambling addicts clock to get $800m | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines
https://greens.org.au/sa/news/media-release/pokies-must-go-action-harmful-gambling-addiction-greens
