Victorian MP Colleen Hartland calls for suspension of pokies law changes as Crown investigated

PLANS to extend pokie licences should be delayed while allegations of machine tampering at Crown casino are investigated, says a Victorian MP.

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A STATE MP has called for proposed legislation to extend pokie licences to be suspended until allegations of machine tampering at Crown casino are investigated.

The state government wants to double the length of a pokie-licences from 10 to 20 years under a raft of changes before parliament.

With the current licences set to expire in 2022, the move would see venues licenced until 2042.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the proposed legislation should be put on the backburner while the alleged misconduct is investigated.

Victoria’s gambling regulator is probing the casino giant after federal MP Andrew Wilkie aired allegations of misconduct from whistleblowers claiming to be former employees.

Crown denied the claims.

Greens Colleen Hartland slammed the proposed pokie changes. Picture: Supplied

“This is a really serious issue,” Ms Hartland said.

“Clearly the information we’ve had from whistleblowers over the last two weeks is that there are serious problems going on at Crown.

“This bill should be suspended while that investigation is occurring.

“And the regulator should not be investigating themselves.”

The “Women Against Pokies” group rallied against the proposed changes at Parliament this morning.

They called for reduced operating hours for gaming venues, maximum $200 cash withdrawals and for bet limits to be cut to $1.

Bets are currently limited to $10 at Crown and $5 across the rest of the state.

Women Against Pokies rallied at State Parliament. Picture: Supplied

Independent MP Suzanna Sheed said the “small changes” would protect problem gamblers.

“The tragedy of today is that we are not here to speak about stopping gambling,” she said.

“We are just trying to incrementally get improvement to a bill that totally sets in place the future of gambling in this state.”

Former gambling addict Gabi Byre told the rally that the addiction was a rollercoaster that “never stops”.

“I lost a lot of money, many friends and I contemplated jumping off that rollercoaster many times,” she said.

“It took me four years of constantly going through therapy and relapse, therapy and relapse to stop.

“My gambling didn’t just affect me. It affected my family, friends and the wider community.”

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