The ACT Government has taken another step towards realising its commitment of reducing harm from electronic gaming machines (EGMs), with the release of a listening report detailing feedback on the proposed harm reduction measures of a $5 bet limit and $100 load-up limit for EGMs in the ACT.
“The ACT Government has been unwavering in its commitment to reduce the harm caused by poker machines while continuing to support local, sustainable clubs,” Minister for Gaming Shane Rattenbury said. “The ACT wants to ensure there is a consultation process for community, clubs, and industry to engage with the ACT Government on this reform, which is why we released our discussion paper in April.
“The ACT Government has committed to lower the bet limit on ACT poker machines from $10 to $5 and to introduce a $100 load-up limit in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement. Reducing the bet limit to $5 will halve the amount of money a person could spend and lose in one hour of play from $12,000 to $6,000.”
The Government received 28 responses to the discussion paper about the harm reduction proposals, including 21 submissions from organisations, and seven survey responses from individual members of the community.
“There was general support among most stakeholders for measures that will reduce harm from gambling on poker machines and views were mixed about the introduction of a central monitoring system to allow for monitoring and control of EGMs,” Minister Rattenbury said.
“Over the coming months, the Government will continue to review the feedback on the discussion paper and analyse how to best implement measures that will reduce harm from gambling on poker machines. A range of additional issues regarding the central monitoring system, costs and its implementation that were raised in submissions will be analysed by the Government.
“Throughout this process the government will also continue to engage with stakeholders, including the Community Clubs Ministerial Advisory Council, clubs, industry and harm reduction advocates.”
The listening report can be found on the .
