The Yass Soldiers Club may be looking at a million dollar loss if a pre-commitment poker machine law is implemented.
The scheme initiated by federal independent MPs aims to decrease gambling by 40 per cent and Soldiers Club general manager John Weir was very much against the move. “That will cost this business close to $1million annually.
It will cost in excess of $300,000 just to implement the scheme,” Mr Weir said. With such big losses predicted Mr Weir said the club wouldn’t be able to function as they are now.
“We won’t be able to pay out the $600,000 in wages every year… there’ll be no more Yass Soldiers Club as it stands.” Other local businesses that have poker machines will also be affected and manager of the Bowling Club, Helen MacArthur, said it will have an effect on the wider community too.
“It will affect larger clubs that rely on their poker machines... it will affect the community, clubs won’t be able to sponsor sporting teams as often,” Ms MacArthur said.
The clubs are in support of the push by the Clubs Association to stop the laws taking place. The Clubs Association has released a major advertising campaign against the new scheme. The ad labels the need to have a “licence” to punt as un-Australian.
Mr Weir agrees and said gambling addiction is a “human problem that needs a human solution”.
The club’s manager said there was no evidence to support the idea that mandatory pre-commitment cards will put a stop to problem gambling. However, independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie disagrees.
“Research shows that a mandatory pre-commitment system, for example smart cards, is an effective way to reduce problem gambling on poker machines,” Mr Wilkie said.
“The Commonwealth Productivity Commission found problem gamblers commonly experience a lack of control, impulsiveness and periodic regret. Mandatory pre-commitment systems allow players to decide how much money they want to spend before they start playing and those feelings take over.”
The MP said the commission recommended recreational gamblers could opt out of having their details recorded and could buy low-value cards or play low intensity machines. St Clement’s Church minister, Reverend Genieve Blackwell, said she understood the motivation behind the initiative.
“It’s important that there is consideration given to help prevent gambling addiction,” Rev Blackwell said.
“However, there are issues that need to be worked through… it’s apparent that places like Yass Soldiers Club do take their responsibilities very seriously.”
Mr Weir said the club is in contact with charity groups in Yass regarding the concerns about problem gambling and that they are taking precautions to stop the societal issue from occurring in the community.
Ben Donoghue, the licensee at the Australian Hotel, said that it wouldn’t hit his business as hard as others but even so it wouldn’t curb gambling addiction.
“I don’t think it’s going to stop gambling... with today’s technology people have access to gambling whether at home or if they come to the pub,” Mr Donoghue said.
Mr Wilkie said that the states and territories have until May this year to sign up for the reform and if they don’t, Prime Minister Julia Gillard will force the change.
“We’re still working out the best pre-commitment technology to use, but the one thing that is not up for negotiation is your right to privacy,” the Tasmanian MP said.
“The only difference is problem gamblers will have a choice about how much money they want to lose on the machines.”
For local reaction, please see the print edition of Wednesday’s Yass Tribune.
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