Media Release – Future Gaming Markets
Media Release | February 2, 2021
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the Gutwein Liberal Government to respond to the multitude of unanswered questions raised in submissions to its own Future Gaming Market (FGM) legislation.
“The Gutwein Government must release its modelling and evidence to demonstrate this policy and implementation framework is the best option for the Tasmanian community,” Ms Webb said.
“The Government must guarantee that any reform to pokies licensing will not result in higher levels of harm to Tasmanians.”
Ms Webb said the public consultation was conducted in February-March 2020 and submissions were made public yesterday, 1 Feb 2021 (https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/gambling/future-gaming-market).
“The submissions show near-universal criticism of the Government’s implementation framework for its FGM policy.
“Submissions decry the woolly aims of the FGM policy and point to a lack of evidence that the implementation measures will effectively deliver the vague outcomes it claims to seek.
“Significant gaps in this policy and its implementation detail are highlighted across many submissions. If the devil is in the detail, there are plenty of nasty surprises still to come on this policy.”
Ms Webb said consumer protection and harm minimisation measures are virtually ignored within the FGM policy and framework.
“Numerous submissions are concerned that the proposed FGM regulatory model is weighted too heavily to benefit industry at the expense of community.
“But submissions from hotel operators express dissatisfaction and demand even more favourable and lucrative license conditions and profit-promoting features that put players at higher risk.
“This is an industry that has happily taken super-profits for more than 20 years from Tasmanian families and communities experiencing addiction.”
Ms Webb said there are globally proven, expert-advised consumer protections that can readily be introduced.
“These measures would not affect recreational pokies users, but would significantly cut addiction and harm.
“These include:
- $1 bet limits
- 6 second spin speeds
- $1000 maximum jackpots
- 92% minimum Return to Player rate.”
