Gaming Opponents Demands Further Cut Back on Poker Machines

On December 12th, 2007, anti-gaming groups are demanding that the government officials take their cut on poker machines further and reduce the machines all over the state. Treasurer John Lender has set aside the decision on increasing the cap of 27,500 poker machines in pubs and clubs, despite intense lobbying from gambling giant Tattersall's.

Anti-gaming organizations have commended the decision of Mr. Lender but said that officials need to take the cuts further. Gabriela Byrne, a reformed poker addict and gaming addiction counselor said that the issue should be to decrease the machines, not to increase it. Victoria has 30,000 poker machines, including the 2,500 machines that the Crown Casino offers. They earn $2.54 billion from punters last year, equating to $639 per individual.

Dr. Ray Clear, the Anglicare Victoria chief executive and former chairman of the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce said that the government must do more to stop gaming. The government of Victoria is set to receive more than $1.5 billion in gaming taxes this year, more than half of it coming from the poker machines.

That figure is expected to improve to $1.8 billion in the next four years. Mr. Lenders defended the tax earnings, saying that poker revenues were actually going down. Opposition gaming spokesperson Michael O'Brien called on the government officials to follow the example of NSW and reduce the poker machines. The Liberal Party promise to scale down poker machines by 5,500 poker machines or about 20%.

December 23, 2007
Brian Nelson