Legislation was tabled today to implement a package of measures to further address problem gambling in Tasmania.
The Treasurer, Michael Aird, said that today’s measures were developed in response to the findings of the Social and Economic Impact Study into Gambling and covered four broad areas.
“The measures the Government is putting in place will ensure Tasmania continues to have the best harm minimisation practices in Australia.”
The four areas covered by legislation are:
1. Enhancing restrictions on access to gambling by minors
All gaming staff will now have an obligation to prevent minors from entering and remaining in a restricted gaming area and the penalty provisions will be aligned with those under the Liquor Licensing Act 1990 (which were increased earlier this year).
2. Strengthening the gaming exclusions regime for self excluded gamblers
This will be achieved by simplifying the types of exclusions and introducing a minimum period of 6 months before an exclusion can be revoked.
3. Expanding the Tasmanian Gaming Commission’s rule making power in relation to access to cash
The Gaming Commission will issue rules to:
- limit the payment of winnings in cash to $1000,
- prohibit the cashing of winning cheques on the day they are won, and
- extend the current restriction of one EFTPOS transaction per person per day in hotels and clubs to the two casinos.
4. Establishing the requirement for a mandatory industry Code of Practice
While the content of the Code will be developed following industry consultation, it will include provisions:
- prohibiting the serving of food and drinks in gaming areas from 9 pm to close of business,
- requiring the display of clocks on walls;
- introducing minimum lighting standards in venues;
- requiring the display of plain English signage including an explanation of return to player;
- setting standards for advertising of gambling products, including player loyalty programs; and
- restricting inducements that may lead to problem gambling behaviour.
Mr Aird said today’s measures complement the measures already being implemented following a Ministerial Direction given to the Gaming Commission on 13 July 2009 that included problem gambler identification, the reduction of bet limits and a requirement to bank cheques within a certain time.
The new measures would also complement national action agreed to at July’s Ministerial Council meeting to reduce harm from gambling:
“Much of the national work program has already been introduced, or is being introduced, in Tasmania,” Mr Aird said.
In relation to the recently released draft Productivity Commission Report on Gambling, Mr Aird said the Government would be examine the draft report in more detail and assess its findings and recommendations.
“Whether the Government implements the final report’s recommendations will need to be considered as part of ongoing reviews of gambling regulation at both a state level and national level (through the Ministerial Council on Gambling).
“I can say at this stage however that the Final Report will inform the scope of the next social and economic impact study into gambling which will commence in 2010.
Mr Aird noted that the Productivity Commission does not advocate reducing machine numbers.
“It maintains the same argument as in its 1999 report that quantity restrictions or reductions are unlikely to be as effective as other harm minimisation measures,” Mr Aird said.
“Furthermore, the Productivity Commission found that there is no clear evidence to suggest that reducing the number of gaming machines from regions is effective in reducing problem gambling.
“Studies of machine reductions in regions of Victoria and South Australia did not demonstrate any consequent reduction in gambling expenditure in those regions.
“Based on these studies, the Productivity Commission concluded that restrictions on accessibility are unlikely to be as effective as other harm minimisation measures.
“These findings reinforce the prudence of the Government’s approach in always seeking to balance the needs of both recreational gamblers against the need to protect those most at risk in the community of gambling obsession or addiction.”
A full list of the new measures and updates on the Commission’s progress in implementing them is available at
www.gaming.tas.gov.au and also included in the Liquor and Gaming Branch newsletter ‘Liquor and Gaming Review’.
