Nsw Poker Machines
- It reveals the top 20 clubs in NSW now have more than 11,000 poker machines between them. Anti-gambling advocates have called on the state government to introduce a cap on the number of poker machines.
- Best Pokie Machines to Play. Pokie machines are an extremely popular pastime in Australia. In fact, almost 40% of all Australians play pokies. With almost 200,000 pokies machines in the country, there is about one pokie machine for every 100 Australian citizens. For foreigners coming into Australia, the concept of pokies is an interesting one.
- Mr Mohr said he understood the need for NSW to reboot its economy but questioned whether gaming rooms should be opening yet. 'For every million dollars that is spent on poker-machine gambling, only about three jobs are created,' he said. 'For every million dollars spent in the rest of hospitality - the front bar and restaurants - it's about 20.
- NSW is set to become the first state to allow pokies venues to reopen as COVID-19 restrictions are eased, but anti-gambling groups say it's a case of putting 'money before health'.
Updated September 25, 2020 17:00:30
New South Wales allowed clubs and pubs to reopen their gambling rooms on June 1. Australia is home to about 200,000 pokies machines, with $7.5 billion fed into the slots every six months.
Family members of problem gamblers could apply to have their relatives banned from gaming venues under a sweeping set of changes designed to reduce gambling harm in Australia's biggest pokies state.
Key points:
- Venues could be fined up to $27,500 for failing to stop self-excluded gamblers
- Gaming room staff will have more power to intervene with problem gamblers
- Australia has the highest per capita level of gambling losses in the world
Under the proposed laws, NSW venues could also be charged tens of thousands of dollars if they fail to stop self-excluded problem gamblers from using their poker machines.
NSW Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello, said he wanted his state to lead the country on gambling reform.
'The reality is we are number one when it comes to how many poker machines we've got, but we're the laggard when it comes to harm minimisation measures,' he said.
The Berejiklian Government wants venues to identify and assist problem gamblers in a way that's comparable to responsible service of alcohol laws — placing more responsibility on venues to intervene with problematic gambling behaviour.
Poker machine attendants in NSW have told ABC Investigations they have seen problem gamblers urinate at poker machines and felt powerless to act under the current laws.
Among the NSW Government proposals, which will be released today for community consultation in the form of a draft bill, are:
- Fines of up to $27,500 for venues that allow self-excluded patrons to gamble
- A new third-party exclusion scheme that allows family members to ask venues to ban their relative from playing poker machines
- Requirements for venues to always have a gambling contact officer on duty who has advanced training in the responsible conduct of gambling
- New whistleblower protections for staff
Australia still world leader in gambling losses
Mr Dominello told the ABC he has been influenced by a number of factors, including the tragic suicide of Gary Van Duinen after a 13-hour pokies binge at Dee Why RSL and the social dislocation caused by COVID-19.
'We've got a pandemic and JobKeeper coming to an end in March; we've got anxiety and depression and stress on the rise, and then we've got an increase in gambling,' he said.
'We've got people using their super funds, and JobKeeper funds going into gambling. All of this amounts to a very nasty cocktail that we need to stay ahead of.'
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Australia has the highest per capita level of gambling losses in the world. The majority of those losses come from poker machines.
NSW has around half of the country's pokies and its clubs and pubs account for over $6 billion a year in losses.
NSW has always been the hardest jurisdiction to push through poker machine reform and Mr Dominello is under no illusion that the powerful lobby groups which represent clubs (ClubsNSW) and pubs (AHA) will automatically endorse his proposals.
'I'm expecting them to put their views and no doubt they've got their very robust views,' he said.
'But that's what the purpose of public consultation is all about — they'll have their views, other industry groups and stakeholders will have theirs, the community will have theirs and we will bring it all together and hopefully get some good legislation through.'
Late Friday afternoon, ClubsNSW and the Australian Hotels Association issued a joint statement, saying there are 'deeply concerned by the potential impact and cost of the draft legislative changes.'
'While several of the harm-minimisation measures contained in the legislation were originally proposed by the industry, the government's intended implementation would create unnecessary red tape and place a significant compliance burden on venues.
'ClubsNSW and AHA NSW are disappointed with the lack of effective consultation on the proposed legislation.
'The lack of effective consultation with key industry stakeholders has resulted in unworkable proposals which will be impossible for venues to comply with.'
'Watershed moment' in NSW gambling history
Kate Da Costa from the Alliance for Gambling Reform said she was relieved there would be community consultation.
'We are pleased that the Minister has released a consultation draft, and intends to allow time for genuine engagement from all stakeholders, especially those with lived experience. Too often in the past, the industry has controlled legislative change,' Dr Da Costa said.
'This legislation is a watershed moment in gambling history in NSW. For the first time, in real terms, the industry will be held responsible and accountable for its role in a system that inflicts harm.'
Do you know more?
Please fill out the ABC Investigations gambling story tips form, or text message the team via the WhatsApp or Signal mobile apps on 0418 347 462.Face ID for gamblers could be used
Dozens of problem gamblers and their friends and family members have contacted ABC Investigations to highlight the flaws in self-exclusion schemes around the country. The main criticism is that self-excluded patrons are being able to enter venues they have barred themselves from.
Gambling researchers from CQ University found in their 176-page report commissioned by the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund that the 'monitoring of self-exclusion has numerous deficiencies'.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
The report suggested that the use of technology could help improve the scheme, including introducing a system that could scan a patron's ID and match it to the self-exclusion register or the use of facial recognition technology.
Mr Dominello said he was open to such suggestions.
'You can use technology to improve lives and reduce suffering. So provided there is privacy and security settings, absolutely,' he said.
'First and foremost, I think this is a type of dialogue we need to have.'
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Topics:gambling, clubs-and-associations, alcohol-education, alcohol, hospitality, sydney-2000, nsw, australia
First posted September 25, 2020 04:49:18
The latest figures from Liquor and Gaming NSW show profits at poker machines increased more than 10 per cent compared to the same period last year, despite the lockdown restrictions on pubs and clubs.
Money laundering during the five months of COVID-19 restrictions drove a $305 million increase in poker machine profits, a spike that experts say shows the need for a gambling card.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that between June and October, profits increased from $2.8 billion last year to $3.1 billion and in July, profits were up 23.3 per cent, up from $581 million in July 2019 to $716 million.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello, who has responsibility for the sector, wants to introduce a gambling card to help problem gamblers but also to stamp out money laundering.
Poker machines would become cashless and gamblers required to register and pre-load money to the card, which would operate in a similar way to Opal cards for public transport.
Chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Philip Crawford said money laundering through machines was highlighted in the Bergin inquiry into Crown’s operations in Melbourne.
The gambling regulator blocked Crown Resorts from opening its $2.2 billion Sydney casino next month after a stunning 11th-hour admission to the inquiry that criminals probably laundered dirty cash through the group’s bank accounts.
Mr Crawford said money laundering has links to “drugs, child sexual exploitation, people trafficking and financing terrorism” and criminals were increasingly washing cash in poker machines.
“Poker machines get targeted by criminal elements because they are a simple and cost-effective way of money laundering by washing cash through a machine,” he said.
“Any reasonable steps that can be taken to reduce money laundering in New South Wales, including the use of technology, should be seriously considered by the government and by industry.”
Calls grow for cashless gambling card in NSW
Mr Crawford said a gambling card would complement the “swipe economy” in which use of cash has been significantly reduced during the pandemic.
“It would greatly assist in the development of strategies to assist problem gamblers and it would significantly reduce the opportunities for money laundering through poker machines,” he said.
“However, technology cannot be used to inappropriately interfere with what is a legal activity, that is, playing poker machines, which for many players does not lead to problem gambling.”
Poker machines are dispersed across 4000 venues in New South Wales and only 1500 of the total 96,000 machines in the state are in the Star Casino.
Chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform Tim Costello has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, urging her cabinet to support a gambling card.
Nsw Poker Machine Statistics
“Every day in NSW pubs and clubs, criminals launder money through poker machines. This is deeply disturbing for many reasons,” Mr Costello’s letter said.
“There is a way to reduce money laundering, which will in turn likely reduce criminality and increase the budget bottom line in NSW.
“The answer is the universal cashless gambling card proposed by Minister Victor Dominello.
“This card has tremendous benefits, both for removing a notorious method of laundering money in NSW and in reducing gambling harm. We urge the cabinet to back it.”
Nsw Gaming Machines
Mr Costello said a gaming card would deliver “an immediate end to money laundering via poker machines in pubs and clubs and a back-up to current proposed self-exclusion identification checks by venues, as a self-excluded gambler’s card would be blocked.”
Nsw Poker Machines Online
He said it would also provide a “tool which allows everyone to manage their own gambling spending and facilitate alternative pathways for those who need to reduce or stop their gambling.”