From gold standard to second-best

The most effective option for reducing harm from poker machines has been denied to Tasmanians, following a Government decision to defer introduction of the universal pre-commitment card system.

Anglicare Social Action and Research Centre Coordinator, economist Mary Bennett, said a move away from the card to a focus on facial recognition technology represented a shift away from a nation-leading, gold standard that would have saved lives.

“Mandatory pre-commitment was reform made in the public interest and based on clear evidence,” she said.

“Facial recognition technology on its own is very much a second-best solution. It will need additional support measures and as a State we will have to go back to re-visiting options such as reducing venue opening hours, and introducing slower speeds and betting limits.

“We would also strongly encourage the Government to look at technologies that provide players with better information, enable player pre-commitment, automate breaks in play and enable detection and early intervention when potential gambling harm is identified.”

Ms Bennett said Anglicare’s frontline staff know how poker machine gambling harms individuals, their families, their work colleagues and entire communities.

“Over the past 12 months in Tasmania 15,400 Tasmanians using poker machines were at risk of harm. Four out of five Tasmanians who engaged with Anglicare’s Gamblers Help service nominated poker machines as their main form of gambling. We need harm reduction measures that reach the 98% of people who are at risk of gambling harm from EGMs and are not enrolled in the self-exclusion program,” she said.

Anglicare will continue to provide the Government with information about gambling harm and to highlight evidence about the best harm minimisation options available.

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