Tasmanians could lose an extra $189.1 million to poker machines over the next year due to the delayed rollout of a universal pre-commitment gaming card, a social services group has warned.
Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) CEO Adrienne Picone slammed the decision to push back the program by 12 months, saying it will lead to more Tasmanians being harmed by gambling.
“While disappointed by this delay, we welcome the government restating its commitment to implementing a pre-commitment gaming card,” Picone said.
“In the interim, we urge the government to introduce simple harm reduction design features on poker machine, such as $1 bet limits and slower spin speeds.”
The card system, which is designed to reduce gambling harm, would require players to preload money and set a limit on the amount they can spend before they start playing.
Loss limits of up to $100 a day, $500 a month and $5,000 a year will apply to all players, unless they can prove they can afford more.
Picone said poker machines account for the most gambling-related harm in the state and the number of Tasmanians being harmed is on the up.
“Gambling harm is a public health issue … as many as one-in-three Tasmanians personally know someone with a serious problem with gambling on poker machines,” she said.
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb called the delay “unacceptable” and said $15.7 million was lost to the “deliberately addictive machines” in May.
“We know that around half of those losses come from people who are addicted,” she said.
“It’s unacceptable for Minister (Nic) Street and the state government to stand by and do nothing meaningful for a further 12 months while Tasmanian families suffer the harm caused by addiction to poker machines.”
