Qld government 'addicted to pokies'

Australia -- The Queensland government's addiction to poker machine revenue is leading to more gambling problems in the community, the opposition says.

Liberal leader Bruce Flegg said he was concerned a bill to stamp out underage gambling had not been passed before parliament rose for the year last week.

The bill, introduced in August, includes penalties of up to $15,000 for casino operators and employees for allowing under 18s to gamble.

The laws also would target other adults who help minors enter casinos.

Dr Flegg said an extra 1,000 poker machines were installed in Queensland each year while the state had around 16,000 problem gamblers.

"It's been well-established that people who begin problem gambling at a young age are much more likely to become (adult) problem gamblers," Dr Flegg told reporters.

"This legislation should have been brought on and should have been enacted in law prior to rising for the end of the year and Queensland simply does not need poker machine numbers rising by 1,000 each and every year."

But the state government was addicted to the $550 million a year in revenue from the machines, he said.

"There is no doubt that the financial windfall that comes from pokies can help fund a lot of important capital works programs around Queensland," he said.

"But, thousands of struggling Queenslanders are putting their family's health and wellbeing through pokies machines because they are addicted."

Dr Flegg called on the government to channel a minimum of five per cent of poker machine revenue into treatment programs for problem gamblers each year.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser was being sought for comment.

A Queensland Treasury spokesperson said that up to 90 per cent of money raised from poker machines was returned to punters in winnings and of the remainder, the government collected about 35 per cent in tax revenue.

This amounted to about $570 million, which was put towards roads, schools and hospitals.

"The Bligh government has a long-standing and on-going commitment to address problem gambling," the spokesperson said.

Problem gamblers made up 0.55 per cent of the total population of Queensland.

Queenslanders each year spent an average $567 on gaming machines, compared to $953 for NSW residents and the national figure of $655.

Sydney Morning Herald

News Added: 20 November, 2007

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