State Government stops move to remove EFTPOS machines from pokie venues

A CROSSBENCH push to remove EFTPOS machines from poker machine venues has been quashed by the State Government, which says the move wouldn’t curb problem gambling.

A CROSSBENCH push to remove EFTPOS from poker machine venues has been quashed by the State Government, which says that the move would not curb problem gambling.

Independent Upper House MP John Darley has introduced proposed laws to State Parliament which would reverse a 2015 decision to allow EFTPOS into pokie venues for the first time.

It has backing from the Greens and SA Best, which says the ability to get unlimited cash from EFTPOS facilities makes a mockery of $250 daily caps on ATM withdrawals in venues.

At the time the change was introduced, the former Labor government argued permitting EFTPOS access while limiting ATM transactions could reduce problem gambling as players would be required to speak with a staff member before gaining extra cash with which to play the pokies.

Hotel staff are subject to regulations around the responsible service of gaming.

Mr Darley said SA allowed gamblers far more access to EFTPOS than other states and countries, and it was “a dumb idea to have them” a short distance from poker machines.

State Attorney-General Vickie Chapman told The Advertiser that Mr Darley’s plans “will be ineffective in reducing problem gambling and don’t have the support of the Government”.

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said Labor was “more concerned about the growing scourge of online gambling”, which should be the subject of an inquiry.

SA Best MP Connie Bonaros said she was preparing legislation which would go even further, and remove ATMs from pokie venues while also imposing maximum $1 bets.

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