Increase to poker machine note allowance will not inflate problem gambling: ACT Government

12 Jan 2015, 11:10am





The ACT Government has defended a decision to increase the dollar value of notes that gamblers can feed into poker machines.

Just before Christmas, the Government increased the note limit from $20 to $50, prompting concerns from welfare organisations that it would encourage problem gambling.

Monash University gambling researcher Dr Charles Livingstone told 666 ABC Canberra, recent Australian research had been conducted on note limits.

"In Queensland a few years ago they altered the note acceptor configuration so the machines would only accept $20 notes up to the value of $100," he said.

"And that had a big impact on both expenditure and the behaviour of people with gambling problems.

"So we do know that changing the configuration of the acceptors actually does have an impact on people's spending patterns."

He warned that the more money people could spend on machines, the faster the onset of a gambling problem as people tried to chase losses.

"People who are in the grip of a gambling problem or are starting one, tend to lose control of just how much money they can spend, and spend everything they have got and then some," Dr Livingstone said.

Gaming Minister Joy Burch made the decision to raise the machine note limit, but denied it would increase gambling problems.

"We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to make sure we maintain a stringent harm minimisation approach but also keep them competitive with NSW clubs," she said.

"But recognise that the vast majority of people who go in to clubs do so because they offer great entertainment, a safe environment and good hospitality."

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT Government had done a lot to tackle problem gambling including a reduction in poker machine numbers.

"We've enacted the strongest harm minimisation regime that this territory has ever seen," he said

"So there's a number of measures that are complementary in terms of enhancing our approach to harm minimisation, chief amongst that is a significant reduction in the number of poker machines in the territory and that's an important outcome."

Poker machines in NSW have no limit on the notes they accept, while Victorian and Queensland pokies accept $50 notes.

In South Australia only coins can be used in machines.

Quote:

Aren't the Greens the party of conscience

Ha.....well they are certainly trying to 'con' people with 'science'...... :D :D :D :D


http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/yellow-hd/sarcastic-laugh-smiley-emoticon.gif

Seems like SA are the only ones with the right idea.

Limits on how much you can put in, and caps on how much you can pull out
are the way to go, given that we'll never get rid of them altogether.

People will 'blow' far more while chasing a $1,000,000 jackpot than they will
chasing a $5000 one.

But the biggest stumbling-block to any meaningful reform is the fact that
state governments pull so much 'money for jam' from them. They won't
give that up without a fight.

Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of.

No, the Greens are only the 'party of conscience' for the bigger,more  media worthy, concepts...The ordinary stuff doesn't even appear on they're radar... 

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 3:56pm:

Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of.

But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia..

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 2:10pm:

We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to make sure we maintain a stringent harm minimisation approach but also keep them competitive with NSW clubs," she said. "But recognise that the vast majority of people who go in to clubs do so because they offer great entertainment, a safe environment and good hospitality." Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT Government had done a lot to tackle problem gambling including a reduction in poker machine numbers. "We've enacted the strongest harm minimisation regime that this territory has ever seen," he said

hilarious... they dont see the contradictions.....so funny.. they have been working with the CLUBS...do they up the paper money by $30...but its all harm minimisation...... HILARIOUS>

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 5:08pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia..

the greens are the biggest ratbags... dont do as I DO just do as I say Party...

they have sold off just about every nit of green space in Canberra...disgraceful and they put whopping big fences around spots where trees once grew.. so people cannot see them being cut down...you have no idea..how artful and devious they are..

cods wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 5:16pm:

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:08pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia.. the greens are the biggest ratbags... dont do as I DO just do as I say Party... they have sold off just about every nit of green space in Canberra...disgraceful and they put whopping big fences around spots where trees once grew.. so people cannot see them being cut down...you have no idea..how artful and devious they are..

Oh YES, I actually DO..

Quote:

"We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to …  keep them competitive with NSW clubs," Gaming Minister Joy Burch said. Poker machines in NSW have no limit on the notes they accept, while Victorian and Queensland pokies accept $50 notes.

... and THERE ... lies "the PROBLEM"


Victoria reluctantly went in to the pokie business on the realisation gamblers were going to pour the contents of their pockets into these blights on society - whether in Victoria, or ELSEWHERE

For MANY years NSW pokie clubs had run "courtesy buses" to pick up Victorian gamblers in the morning, take them across the NSW border to a licenced pokie den - and get them back by early evening
The return bus trip was "free" - as was lunch

So Victoria WAS developing a gambling problem - but the NSW Governments were picking up the spoils

The ACT has a similar dilemma

NSW is a hop and a jump - from ACT anywhere
The ONLY way the ACT government can help and support its OWN gambling dens - is to try and match the terms and conditions of the "neighbours"

And by driving its gamblers across the border the ACT Government is handing all that tax revenue to NSW

www.parliament.act.gov.au/members/eighth-assembly-members/brindabella/joy-burch


Joy BURCH
Australian Labor Party, Brindabella Electorate



Quote:

Gaming Minister Joy Burch made the decision to raise the machine note limit, but denied it would increase gambling problems.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 5:25pm:

Quote: "We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to …  keep them competitive with NSW clubs," Gaming Minister Joy Burch said. Poker machines in NSW have no limit on the notes they accept, while Victorian and Queensland pokies accept $50 notes. ... and THERE ... lies "the PROBLEM" Victoria reluctantly went in to the pokie business on the realisation gamblers were going to pour the contents of their pockets into these blights on society - whether in Victoria, or ELSEWHERE For MANY years NSW pokie clubs had run "courtesy buses" to pick up Victorian gamblers in the morning, take them across the NSW border to a licenced pokie den - and get them back by early evening The return bus trip was "free" - as was lunch So Victoria WAS developing a gambling problem - but the NSW Governments were picking up the spoils The ACT has a similar dilemma NSW is a hop and a jump - from ACT anywhere The ONLY way the ACT government can help and support its OWN gambling dens - is to try and match the terms and conditions of the "neighbours" And by driving its gamblers across the border the ACT Government is handing all that tax revenue to NSW

how gullible are you...  RELUCTANTLY???

you believe anything that suits your love of labor.  Labor introduced pokies to the country and we are by far the biggest pokie player son the planet.

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 5:08pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia..

You missed the 2013 federal election campaign and the Gillard term of government.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 2:10pm:

We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to make sure we maintain a stringent harm minimisation approach but also keep them competitive with NSW clubs," she said. "But recognise that the vast majority of people who go in to clubs do so because they offer great entertainment, a safe environment and good hospitality." Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT Government had done a lot to tackle problem gambling including a reduction in poker machine numbers. "We've enacted the strongest harm minimisation regime that this territory has ever seen," he said

They need to go to the lowest possible standard ?

It mast be so unfair to be deterred from exploiting vulnerable people.

They should have gone the other way and established the standard across the nation.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 6:25pm:

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:08pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia.. You missed the 2013 federal election campaign and the Gillard term of government.

Nice meaningless statement DNA. 

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 6:15pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:25pm: Quote: "We've been working with the clubs over the last few years to …  keep them competitive with NSW clubs," Gaming Minister Joy Burch said. Poker machines in NSW have no limit on the notes they accept, while Victorian and Queensland pokies accept $50 notes. ... and THERE ... lies "the PROBLEM" Victoria reluctantly went in to the pokie business on the realisation gamblers were going to pour the contents of their pockets into these blights on society - whether in Victoria, or ELSEWHERE For MANY years NSW pokie clubs had run "courtesy buses" to pick up Victorian gamblers in the morning, take them across the NSW border to a licenced pokie den - and get them back by early evening The return bus trip was "free" - as was lunch So Victoria WAS developing a gambling problem - but the NSW Governments were picking up the spoils The ACT has a similar dilemma NSW is a hop and a jump - from ACT anywhere The ONLY way the ACT government can help and support its OWN gambling dens - is to try and match the terms and conditions of the "neighbours" And by driving its gamblers across the border the ACT Government is handing all that tax revenue to NSW how gullible are you...  RELUCTANTLY??? you believe anything that suits your love of labor.

... and look who blew FIRST
Apologies for hitting such a *shrill* note to such delicate, white, "christian" dog-eat-dog capitalist ears

NATURALLY ( ... and wisely) you have disputed NOTHING in my post ?

... and YES - I use "reluctantly" in its correct context
The John Cain Labor Government rejected them
They were introduced by the Joan Kirner Labor Government
- and then "turbo charged" by the Jeff Kennett Liberal Government
As for "you believe anything that suits your love of labor" - if I had The Pope's sinister powers I would unplug every last one of the f*ckers and give them a burial at sea - hopefully off the coast of W.A.

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 6:46pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 6:25pm: gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:08pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia.. You missed the 2013 federal election campaign and the Gillard term of government. Nice meaningless statement DNA.

Many would comprehend that Abbott and co were pretending to hold the moral high ground through that period.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 8:31pm:

Abbott and co were pretending to hold the moral high ground through that period.

http://www.magiclanterngraphics.com/flying-pigs.gif

WA are penalised for not having pokies.

The feds deem we could raise money from pokies.

If this anomaly was corrected WA would get $400mil more from the feds.

Ok I will try and find a link for you Drongoes

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/fair-go-for-the-west-government-opposition-back-fairer-gst-distribution-system/story-fnhocxo3-1227124381143

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 5:08pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia..

Probably just as well, because they don't actually HAVE any.

Morals, ethics, scruples. Call it what you will, it's totally absent in the neo-con DNA.

Kat wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 10:04pm:

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:08pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia.. Probably just as well, because they don't actually HAVE any. Morals, ethics, scruples. Call it what you will, it's totally absent in the neo-con DNA.

As it is from Labor and the Greens...the difference is, the LNP don't pretend that they have more morals,ethics etc than they do have...unlike the others.

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12^th, 2015 at 10:34pm:

Kat wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 10:04pm: gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 5:08pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:56pm: Maybe not concern yourself so much with the greens conscience but be concerned about the liberals obvious substantial lack of. But the Liberals don't 'pretend' to be the 'moral arbiters' for ALL of Australia.. Probably just as well, because they don't actually HAVE any. Morals, ethics, scruples. Call it what you will, it's totally absent in the neo-con DNA. As it is from Labor and the Greens...the difference is, the LNP don't pretend that they have more morals,ethics etc than they do have...unlike the others.

exactly right

Yes there is definately some sort of negative universe/reverse polarity going on when it comes to ethics, somehow the unscrupulous left has managed to paint the ethical right as the real villain in all of this.
Not really sure how they have managed to do this but kudos to them, its a propaganda victory and even if it is evil one must still respect the shear audacity of it, white anting education and the media has helped in a big way.
So has big government.