SA Election 2018: SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon releases pokies policy, plans to cut numbers by a third over five years

POKER machine numbers in SA would be cut by a third over the next five years under a major new policy released by SA Best Leader and anti-gambling campaigner Nick Xenophon.

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POKER machine numbers in SA would be cut by a third over the next five years under a major new policy released by SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon.

The man who shot to fame as the “no pokies” MP two decades ago says he now wants to reduce the harm they cause and will make his new policy a key balance of power negotiating point.

Nick Xenophon on his no pokies campaign in 1997.

Polls suggest SA Best could win enough Lower House seats to decide who forms government, and claim a decisive spot on the Upper House crossbench.

The SA Greens have followed the lead of Tasmanian Labor by promising to eliminate pokies.

Mr Xenophon said SA Best’s new policy was “the best way to reduce gambling harm”.

“Our policies will be a key negotiating plank to keep the next government of SA accountable on such an important issue, should we have the seats in Parliament to influence that change,” he said. “The major parties seem beholden to the poker machine lobby.

“The fact that the pokies barons and the Australian Hotels Association are making huge donations to the major parties, and the Australian Conservatives, and unleashing a massive campaign against SA-BEST indicates they are worried at the prospect of real reform.”

The key pillars of the policy are:

REDUCING the number of poker machines in hotels by 50 per cent over five years. Only applies to venues with more than 10 machines. Expected to cut total number of machines in SA by approximately 4000 from the current figure of approximately 12,100.

IMPOSE $1 maximum bets per spin and reducing maximum jackpots to $500.

BUY-BACK machines in venues with fewer than 10 machines.

MAKE machines “con-free”, by removing features like near misses.

CONVERT poker machine licences to seven-year terms starting from January 1, 2019. Parliament to consider the extension of those licences before the 2022 state election.

PROVIDE “an orderly economic and employment transition for the changes through the independent Gambling Authority with a transition fund established”. Preference given to those smaller poker machine operators, and those in regional areas.

INCREASE rehabilitation services by $3 million.

REMOVE EFTPOS from poker machine rooms.

BAN political donations from the gambling industry.