Australia: Alcohol serving ban for pokies players in Tasmania goes too far, hoteliers say

 

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/

By Fiona Blackwood

April 14th

 

New restrictions on gamblers being served alcohol while using poker machines in Tasmania are harsh and restrictive, according to the hospitality association.

 

A review of the Responsible Gambling Mandatory Code of Practice for Tasmania comes into effect on May 1.

 

Patrons in pubs will no longer be served alcohol if they are playing, seated at or standing at a gaming machine.

 

At casinos, a person playing cannot be served alcohol between 6:00pm and close of gambling each day.

 

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s Steve Old said the state’s gambling harm minimisation laws are the toughest in the country and make it harder for people to gamble in a pub or club.

 

“It is a very harsh code, there are a lot of harm minimisation practices within that code and I think a lot of people are not aware of that,” he said.

 

He said some of the changes to the code go too far.

 

There are also changes to the maximum amount of money which can be withdrawn from EFTPOS machines in venues with poker machines.

 

A $100 limit will apply to cash withdrawals in pubs and clubs while a $200 limit remains for casinos.

 

“Pubs and clubs do get treated differently to casinos and I know that frustrates those involved,” Mr Old said.

 

Regional pubs to be hit hard

 

He said the cash withdrawal restrictions will make it difficult for patrons of country pubs.

 

“You stay in the place with accommodation, eat a meal there, you have a drink at the bar, you can play keno but because they’ve got gaming machines at that venue you can only get $100 out in some regional areas of Tasmania,” he said.

 

“That’s going to be very hard for the tourists and local person.”

 

The association made a submission on changes to the code.

 

“We’ve put out case forward and we didn’t get heard so that’s the way it goes and we’ll just have to see how it plays out in reality,” he said.

 

Leading up to the March election, the Labor Opposition pledged to remove all poker machines from Tasmanian pubs and clubs by 2023.

 

Changes a ‘band aid’, more needed: Wilkie

Tasmanian independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilke, said the reforms were welcome but they do not go far enough.

 

“Any poker machine reform is good and I celebrate it and to place new restrictions on cash withdrawals and the service of alcohol obviously that will help some people,” he said.

 

But he said it was ultimately another band aid and the State Government needs to go further.

 

“The sort of reform that is needed is $1 maximum bets, limits on jackpots and even a mandatory pre-commitment system where people set limits and those limits are enforced on the machines,” Mr Wilke said.

 

Treasurer Peter Gutwein believes the Government’s changes strike a balance.

 

“That will help those who need it while not being overly restrictive on those who like the occasional flutter,” he said.

 

He said the changes to the Code of Practice would complement changes the Government has committed to post-2023.

 

They include a new cap on machines reducing numbers by 150 in pubs and clubs.

 

The Government will also double the funding for harm minimisation and community projects.

 

Treasury figures released in February show more than $50 million was spent on gaming machines at the top 20 pubs for poker machine losses during 2015-16.