Tatts wants more 'non-addictive' pokies

Australia -- GAMBLING giant Tatts wants to operate more poker machines in Victoria - and says they are not addictive. Pokies have sucked $7 million a day from punters for 15 years, but Tatts says they are just a form of entertainment.

Tatts chief executive Frank Makryllos told a parliamentary inquiry yesterday he believed Victoria could sustain an increase in pokie numbers above the current 30,000 limit.

"An increase would not be out of step with population growth," he said. Mr Makryllos said poker machines posed no harm.

"I don't think they are addictive," he said.

"It's an entertainment machine, it entertains. That's it."

Celebrity priest and social justice campaigner Father Bob Maguire hit out at the pokies grab.

"It's a pity, but some people are awfully greedy," he said.

Anti-pokies campaigner Gabriela Byrne said the suggestion that pokies were not addictive was outrageous.

"We have evidence that it's addictive and I can't believe that they can come out and say this," she said.

Tatts first called for an increase in poker machine numbers in its submission to the Government's review of pokies licences beyond 2012, when current contracts expired.

Tatts and Tabcorp operate 13,500 machines each, while Crown casino has 2500.

Since that submission, it has been revealed that Victorians lost a massive $27 billion in 15 years of gambling on the pokies.

State government figures showed pokies punters were losing $2.5 billion each year -- about $7 million a day.

The Government reaped $1.55 billion in pokies tax last year.

Opposition gaming spokesman Michael O'Brien called on the Brumby Government to immediately rule out any increase in poker machines.

"Victorians lost over $2.5 billion on pokies last year, with problem gamblers contributing a significant proportion of that loss," Mr O'Brien said.

"Victorians are rightly concerned that we have more than enough electronic gaming machines and the last thing we need is an increase.

"But Premier Brumby is so addicted to gaming revenue that he is now considering a boost to pokies numbers in Victoria."

Gaming Minister Tony Robinson's spokeswoman, Emma Diffen, would not rule out a possible increase in the number of gaming machines in Victoria.

Asked directly if there would be an increase, Ms Diffen said: "The number of (pokies) has remained at 27,500 (outside the casino) since this Government came to office.
"The Government has consistently stated that this review will not look at the number of (pokies) outside the casino."

Mr Makryllos told the inquiry he was not aware of any correspondence from the State Government rejecting any increase in the numbers of machines licensed in Victoria.

"But we're happy to work within the current caps."

The Herald Sun revealed Tatts' hopes for an increase last year, when the company also told the Government the current duopoly enjoyed by Tatts and gaming company Tabcorp ought to be continued for another 20 years.

Mr Makryllos told the inquiry yesterday that the Brumby Government's controversial regional cap on poker machine numbers was doing nothing to dissuade problem gamblers.

"They haven't done anything for problem gambling," he said.

Tatts' responsible gambling manager Andrew Birks said the company would not consider "roaming interventionists" to monitor problem gambling at gaming venues.

"We're in the entertainment industry and we don't think it would be comfortable for recreational gamers," he said.

"We expect venue staff to keep an eye out for obvious signs of problem gambling."

Last week, the NSW Government announced it would cut the number of poker machines operating in that state from 104,000 to 99,000.

Herald Sun Australia

News Added: 11 December, 2007

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