Article-How much should you lose on pokies?

INDIVIDUALS who are addicted to poker machines are being urged to have their say on the system that could help stop them from feeding money into the industry’s pockets.

The Tasmanian Government will introduce a cashless, mandatory ‘player card’ that will be required before anyone can use any poker machine at a hotel, club or casino.

The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (TLGC) has called for public feedback into how the system should operate.

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb is urging any poker player or family member who is impacted by gambling addictions to provide feedback.

“A pokies card will be the most effective gambling harm reduction measure ever introduced in this state, and will play an enormous role in reducing the potential for catastrophic harm for individuals, their families, workplaces and the broader community,” Ms Webb said.

“It is very important for those designing the new pokies player card and cashless gaming system to hear from the lived experience of those battling the ramifications of pokies addiction, whether as individuals or within the sector to ensure it is as effective as possible.”

She said the views of the community and the industry to TLGC’s proposals must be heard.

“High losses to pokies during the current cost of living crisis will be having an even more devastating impact on Tasmanian families, as they struggle to cover basic daily expenses.

“We are seeing the ripple effect of pokies addiction in our community, impacting family, friends, workplaces, and increasing family breakdown, homelessness, and pressure on our health and criminal justice systems.

“We know the Commission will be hearing from industry interests. They must also hear from the community who see and live with the very real pokies fallout.” The TLGC consultation paper wants feedback on mandatory activity statements, player requests to increase betting limits and player self-imposed bans from gambling.

For example, it asks whether activity statements providing the total amount of money lost and time spent on machines should be mandatory or optional.

It also asks whether there should be a cooling off period for players to reconsider their requests to increase the amount of money they are able to lose in any day, month or year.

Questions include:

Should there be a limit on how much money can be loaded into a player account? .

Should there be a limit on transferring from their account to a machine? .

Should there be an ID check (as well as PIN) when collecting funds? Ms Webb said Tasmanians lost more than $16 million in gambling in just one month, with a total loss of $186 million across 2023/2024.

“The evidence tells us that around half of all losses to pokies come from people who are addicted and experiencing harm,” she said.

Feedback is open until October 18.