Tasmania leads on limits for poker machine losses

All states have been urged to follow Tasmania in introducing a ‘nation-leading’ system of mandated poker machine gambling limits, capping the amount anyone can lose at $5000 a year.

Tasmanian Deputy Premier and Treasurer Michael Ferguson announcing nation-first poker machine loss limits in Hobart on Thursday.

All states have been urged to follow Tasmania in introducing a “nation-leading” system of mandated poker machine gambling limits, capping the amount anyone can lose at $5000 a year.

Tasmanian Liberal Treasurer Michael Ferguson said on Thursday the precommitment, cashless card system would address problem gambling while not impacting recreational punters.

“Routine default pre-commitment … is the gold standard of harm minimisation measures – Tasmania is the first state to ­announce a scheme of this kind,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Players will be able to register for a card at any venue. Cards will have preset default limits that can be lowered by players at any time, or increased within certain ­parameters.”

Maximum default loss limits will be $100 a day, $500 a month and $5000 a year. Politicians and groups campaigning for poker machine ­reform urged other jurisdictions to follow suit. “Mostly crucially, setting an annual loss limit of $5000, which cannot be extended without proof of financial capacity, should reduce the risk of catastrophic ­financial harm,” said anti-pokies upper house independent MP Meg Webb.

Independent federal MP ­Andrew Wilkie said: “The system will … put considerable pressure on the territories and other states to follow suit.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old accused the government of breaking a promise to respect punter’s free choice. “Freedom and choice have been sacrificed by the Rockliff Liberal cCabinet at the expense of a fair go,” Mr Old said. “The Liberal government has declared it will decide how Tasmanians spend their money and how Tasmanians consume their entertainment.”