Australian Pokie Reforms Hit Some States Harder Than Others

A rule designed to give smaller clubs more time to adjust to the Australian government’s poker machine reforms seems to be benefitting clubs in some states more than others.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the extension – which applies to clubs which host 15 poker machines or fewer – will allow 51% of clubs in New South Wales (NSW) to be exempt from any changes until 2018, with some regions of the state having up to 75% of their clubs exempt until the later date.

Meanwhile, other states will not fare nearly as well. In Victoria, under 2% of all clubs will be exempt, with the vast majority of clubs being required to comply with the changes by 2014.

According to Families Minister Jenny Macklin, small clubs need protections that allow them time to adjust and pay for upgrades to their poker machines.

'We know that small pubs and clubs just aren't the same as the big gambling venues in the city,” Macklin told the Herald. “Small clubs and pubs are an important part of our regional communities - they are a place for people to get together and they support local sporting and community groups.''

The proposed reforms on poker machines are the brainchild of Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie, who gave his support to the Gillard government only in exchange for a promise to tackle problem gambling. The reforms would require players to pre-commit to loss limits; players would require smartcards to play on machines in clubs, and would prevent players from continuing to play once their predetermined limits were reached.

Along with the exemption for smaller clubs, there are other workarounds that may allow some clubs to avoid having to make these changes. For instance, any machine with a $1 maximum bet and a jackpot of $500 or less would also be exempt from the pre-commitment technology.

However, local governments in several states, including both NSW and Victoria, oppose mandatory restrictions on poker machines being imposed by the federal government. The states have instead supported a voluntary system that would allow – but not require – clubs and players to participate.