Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page
Chapter 2
The Poker Machine Harm Reduction ($1 Bets and Other Measures) Bill 2012
Background
2.1
The Poker Machine Harm Reduction ($1 Bets and Other Measures) Bill 2012
(the bill) was introduced in the Senate on 22 March 2012.[1]
Pursuant to the resolution of appointment of the Joint Select Committee on
Gambling Reform the bill was referred to the committee for inquiry and report.[2]
The bill was sponsored by Senator Richard Di Natale, Senator John Madigan and Senator
Nick Xenophon.
2.2
In order to assist submitters, the committee originally decided to
consider this legislation together with the government gambling reform
legislation when it was introduced into the House of Representatives. On 18
September 2012, noting the government legislation had not yet been introduced,
the committee decided to commence this inquiry. When the government gambling
reform legislation was ultimately introduced in November 2012,[3]
the committee decided to continue with its inquiry into the $1 bets legislation
and report separately.
Conduct of the inquiry
2.3
The committee advertised the inquiry on its website. The committee also
wrote to a number of organisations and individuals inviting submissions by 31
October 2012. The committee received 17 submissions, which are listed at the
end of this report, in Appendix 1.
2.4
A public hearing for the inquiry was held in Canberra on 22 February
2013. A list of witnesses who appeared at the hearing is at Appendix 2, while
the Hansard transcript is available online.[4]
Purpose of the bill
2.5
The bill's overarching aim is to reduce the harm caused by problem
gambling. It seeks to achieve this by regulating the operation of poker
machines, specifically through limiting the rate of loss experienced by
players.
2.6
To achieve this, the bill aims to regulate four parameters: acceptable
banknote denomination, entering credit limits, maximum bet amounts/jackpots and
linked-jackpot arrangements. The bill would:
-
prevent poker machines from accepting banknotes of a denomination
greater than $20;
-
prevent poker machines from accepting additional credits from a
player while the machine stands in credit of $20 or more to the player;
-
prevent poker machines from allowing maximum bets in excess of $1
per spin; and
-
limit poker machine jackpots or linked-jackpot arrangements
greater than $500.[5]
2.7
The bill would also provide for a reduction in the poker machine spin
rate.
Timeline for implementation
2.8
The bill sets out a timeline for implementation of the proposed
measures.
2.9
Subclause 7(1) of the bill stipulates that from 1 January 2013 machines should
no longer be able to be sold unless they are capable of supporting the
specified limits.[6]
2.10
From 1 January 2017 machines would not be sold unless they operate only
in accordance with the proposed limits. In venues with more than 10 machines,
all machines are to be operated in accordance with those limits.[7]
2.11
From 1 January 2019 venues with 10 or fewer machines would only be able
to operate compliant machines.[8]
Key provisions of the bill
2.12
The bill has five parts. Part 1 covers preliminary issues. Clause 5 of
Part 1 indicates that the Act is not intended to exclude or limit the
concurrent operations of any law of a state or territory to the extent that the
law is capable of operating concurrently with the Act.[9]
2.13
Clause 6 of Part 1 sets out definitions. It defines a 'corporation' as a
corporate entity to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
'Jackpot' is defined as the result of a game that pays the maximum payable
winnings. 'Spin rate' is defined as the interval between spins on a poker
machine.[10]
2.14
Part 2 outlines the restrictions on the practical operation of poker
machines. Clause 7 of Part 2 sets out restrictions on the sale and operation of
poker machines that do not comply with the loss-limiting measures specified in
the bill. It states:
- after 31 December 2012, a corporation must not sell or lease (or
offer to sell or lease) a poker machine unless it is capable of complying with
the requirements in clause 8 of the bill (i.e., that it can be operated in a
mode that complies, whether or not this is the default or only mode of
operation);
- after 31 December 2016, a corporation must not sell or lease (or
offer to sell or lease) a poker machine unless the machine complies with the requirements
set out in clause 8;
- after 31 December 2016, a licensed venue with more than 10 poker
machines must not acquire, install, own, operate or lease a poker machine
unless that machine complies with the requirements set out in clause 8; and
- venues which have 10 or fewer poker machines have until 31
December 2018 to ensure that their machines are compliant with the requirements
set out in clause 8.[11]
2.15
Part 3 outlines civil penalties which would apply for contravention of
civil penalty provisions set out in clause 7.
2.16
Part 4 of the bill sketches out the minimum uniform national standards for
poker machines in relation to harm minimisation. It also provides for a
national monitoring network.
2.17
Part 5 covers miscellaneous matters.
Note on references
2.18
References in this report are to individual submissions as received by
the committee, not to a bound volume.
Acknowledgement
2.19
The committee thanks those organisations and individuals who made
submissions to this inquiry and gave evidence at the committee's public
hearing.
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page
Top
|