Tasmania to trial mandatory betting limits on pokies as part of harm minimization measure

A new poker machine membership program, including benefits, is set to mark a mandatory betting limit within its rules as part of a harm minimization measure by the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (TLGC), reports The Examiner.

The new program is set to be offered in the special rooms of two Tasmanian casinos and will target “premium players”. It will require its members to set a limit on the amount of money they are willing to lose over a 12 month period: the betting limit must be “financially sustainable” and will be assessed according to previous gambling history.

In a statement, the TLGC said that if a player reaches the limit set before the 12 months they will be denied access to the program and benefits that go with the membership. The mandatory provision marks the first of its kind in Australia, further adds The Examiner.

One point that has given space for debate is the fact that the measure only targets casinos, which would leave out pokie users in Tasmania outside of these facilities, with Independent Nelson MLC Meg Webb describing it as a “baby-step”.

It is estimated that the presence of slots in pubs and clubs make up about 93% of the total 196,000 machines in the country, with the rest mainly in casinos.

TLGC chair Jenny Cranston has defended the scheme, saying it would give people information to make informed decisions about how much money they are prepared to lose, ensuring they will only spend what they originally intended.

“We know that people generally underestimate the amount of money they lose when gambling so having actual data on losses should assist players to set realistic gambling limits,” described Cranston, according to the previously cited news site.

The discussions surrounding “pokies” is not a new one in Australia, as the country gambles more each year per capita than any other nation. Tasmania is not the exception, with backlash against slot machines growing year by year.

Player harm has also been a topic of discussion for Australia, which has called for other regulations to be taken. Earlier this month, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) proposed a new structured approach to live testing, featuring set conditions to determine whether new gaming products are suitable or not for approval.