Poker Machine Reform a Tough Sell in Australia

While there are several national issues that have become difficult sells for the Gillard government in Australia, none have caused more problems for Labor MPs than the plan to add pre-commitment technology to poker machines throughout the country.

The pressure has come down hardest in New South Wales and Queensland, where “Save Our Clubs” campaigns have targeted 25 Labor MPs in order to drum up opposition to the plans. The new rules would require all poker machines (the local term used for slot machines) to be retrofitted with pre-commitment technology if they could accept bets of more than $1. The technology would require players to sign up for smartcards and set limits for themselves ahead of time; the machines would then work with the cards to know how much money players had lost on the machines, and stop players from further play if they should reach those limits.

While Labor MPs are facing resistance on several issues, including a proposed carbon tax, many believe that the gambling reform is the most difficult sell of all. However, the Gillard government has found itself in a tough situation, as they had previously made promises to Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who only agreed to help form a coalition government in exchange for a promise to pass reforms on poker machines. According to Wilkie, should such legislation fail to pass by next May, he’d walk out on the government, creating the possibility that the Gillard governmental coalition could fall apart.

The prospects of the bill passing appear rather poor at the moment. While Wilkie has repeatedly expressed confidence that the bill will pass as long as Labor remains firmly behind it, other Labor officials have expressed doubt that it will pass. Some are hoping instead that Wilkie can renegotiate his deal, as long as the government makes an earnest attempt to pass his measures.