The Tasmanian government is walking back its promise to introduce mandatory carded play for pokies that was initially promised back in 2022.
The Australian state’s government now says it has ‘deferred progress’ on the issue, claiming it prefers to work with other states on a pre-commitment solution.
The issue has resulted in a motion of no-confidence in the state’s Premier, Jeremy Rockliff.
The idea for mandatory carded play was initially announced on the recommendation of the state’s gaming and liquor regulator – aiming to establish pre-set loss limits of up to AU$100 ($65) per day or AU$5,000 ($3,250) per year, in a bid to curb problem gambling and reduce gambling harm.
The card had been expected to be implemented by the end of 2024, a date later pushed back to the end of 2025 due to the complexity of the system.
Authorities say this is based on a report by MaxGaming, who is tasked with implementing the system, which mentioned the complexity of the system as well as a “likely significant cost increase and implementation delays”, notes ABC.
“But there are many other ways that we can support people in Tasmania, vulnerable Tasmanians with gambling addiction,” he stated.
The original proponent of the plan, former treasurer Michael Ferguson, noted his “great disappointment that the government and the cabinet have made the decision that they have, it may be that they have information that I don’t have access to”.
However, Ferguson did indicate that statements by officials “made very clear that this is a deferral, not a destruction, of what is nation-leading, evidence-based, pro-family, pro-freedom policy”.
Independent MP Kristie Johnston noted that “it’s obvious that the THA (Tasmanian Hospitality Association) is running this government […] they secured big tax cuts to their pokies’ revenue in advance of the introduction of a mandatory player pre-commitment card. Their profits went up by 40 to 60 percent,” cites the publication.
According to government data cited by The Guardian, Tasmanians have lost more than AU$1.14 billion ($749 million) on pokies since the March 2018 Tasmanian election (which proposed the removal of the machines from pubs and clubs). There are reportedly some 2,300 pokie machines located across 91 venues in the state.
New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia have already introduced carded play, with casino operators such as Crown Resorts, The Star, and SkyCity (who is also introducing it at its New Zealand casinos) already rolling out the measure.
