The Greens Continue the Fight for $1 Pokie Limits

When pokie reform was initially proposed in 2011, The Greens opposed the idea of pre-commitment in favour of $1 betting limits. Although voluntary pre-commitment was mandated last year, the political party continues to push for a $1 limit on pokie wagers.

This week, the Tasmania Greens held a public forum to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of imposing $1 betting limits on pokie machines. The group obtained a great deal of support from local community members. Several responsible gambling groups from Tasmania attended the event to help make the case for betting limits.

By limiting pokie expenditure, The Greens believe that the proposal will result in a decrease in problem gambling rates across the country. They anticipate a $350 million drop in pokies spending, the majority of which would have been provided by addicted players. The group maintains that it is no anti-gambling, but simply wants to reduce the potential harm that poker machines can cause.

The Greens’ proposal will be presented to the House of Assembly next month. So, it is important that the political party garner as much support for the plan throughout April.