State Government urged to guarantee no new pokies in Glenorchy

As the number of poker machines allowed in Tasmanian pubs and clubs drops there are concerns about 50 new machines which cash in to the tune of $7.5 million per year.

Elwick Hotel in Glenorchy that has been held up twice in a month. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

THE State Government has been urged to guarantee no new poker machines will be installed in Glenorchy, as parliament prepares to consider new gaming legislation.

The proposed reforms, announced last year, would see the cap on poker machines in the state’s pubs and clubs reduced from 2500 to 2350.

There are 2300 poker machines in Tasmanian pubs and clubs, with concerns about where the remaining 50 could be established.

Federal Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, yesterday said Glenorchy was an area that suffered the state’s highest losses and urged no more new machines be put there.

Mr Wilkie said the Elwick Hotel was “ground zero” for poker machines losses in Tasmania, saying each machine at the venue took almost $150,000 a year.

“Another 50 machines harvesting this kind of money adds up to $7.5 million,’’ he said. “That’s $7.5 million flowing out of the community and into the pockets of the poker machine industry.”

Under the reforms, Federal Group’s monopoly over the state’s poker machines will end. Instead, pubs and clubs will be allowed to hold individual licences for poker machines from July 2023, when the current deal expires, should the legislation be passed.

Mr Wilkie said the reforms must include protections for the community, including slower spins, $1 maximum bets, tougher fines for venues that flout the rules and removal of addictive features from poker machines.

“Poker machines are a dangerous product. Just like seat-belt and drink-driving laws made driving safer, we need to make operating a poker machine safer,’’ he said.

Finance Minister Michael Ferguson said Tasmania’s harm minimisation framework was regarded as one of the leading schemes in Australia.

“Tasmania will continue to implement best practice harm minimisation, in accordance with our pre-election policy,” he said.

Nelson MLC Meg Webb called on the government to commit to no further increase to the number of poker machines in the state.

“Apart from regional towns, Launceston is the most exposed municipality to more machines being added,’’ she said.

“Small towns on the East and West Coasts are also at risk to more machines being added to venues.”