The resolution, which will
heap pressure on the Minns government to be more bullish in its approach to
overhauling gaming in NSW, said Unions NSW acknowledged “a complete ban on poker
machines is unrealistic”.
“However, there is a need to phase down
the number of poker machines in our state,” the resolution said.
NSW Labor has committed to bringing
down the number of pokies across the state by increasing the forfeit rate to one
poker machine for every two purchased. In the current legislation, the
forfeiture rate is one to two or three.
However, the unions’ resolution is far
more ambitious and calls for a moratorium on granting new poker machine licences
in pubs and clubs, and when venues close or relocate, those licences would be
cancelled and the machines removed from circulation.
The resolution also called for “the $1
billion tax subsidy for poker machines installed in registered clubs” to be used
to compensate pubs and clubs for the removal of licences.
“Compensation should be minimal given
the historical profits made from those machines,” the resolution said.
In a briefing paper
circulated to members, Unions NSW said “gambling has both a direct and indirect
effect on workers employed in venues where poker machines are located”.
Unions NSW said the state had an
unhealthy gambling addiction, and noted that the NSW Crime Commission labelled
NSW the “gambling capital of Australia” because of the vast sums of cash flowing
through poker machines in pubs and clubs.
“Australians outspend the citizens of
every other country on online gambling, with $95 billion turned over in poker
machines in NSW pubs and clubs each year – equivalent to almost three times the
NSW Health budget,” the paper said.
“Of the $25 billion Australians lose to
gambling every year, poker machines account for $11.7 billion.”
In late 2022, the
NSW Crime Commission delivered a damning report which found “a
significant amount of money which is put through poker machines is the proceeds
of crime”, including drug dollars.
Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said
NSW had too many pokies, “pure and simple”.
“The brutal truth about poker machines
is that supply creates demand, and in turn, misery,” Morey said.
“It’s not beyond our political will and
policy imagination to reduce the social damage created by poker machines through
a phased reduction. Unions are ready to work co-operatively with the state
government on a robust reform process.”
Morey made a
significant foray into the debate over the future of poker machines
last year when he backed then-Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet’s cashless
gaming card proposal.
Gambling reform advocate Tim Costello,
who was highly critical of NSW Labor’s gambling policy ahead of last year’s
election, said he had been talking to Unions NSW about gambling reform for about
18 months.
“Unions NSW are totally spot on with
what they are doing because, as I say ad nauseam,
why is it that NSW has 35 per cent of the world’s pokies in pubs and clubs?”
Costello said.
A spokesperson for Minister for Gaming
and Racing David Harris said the government had already taken action on pokies.
“The NSW
government has already lowered the state’s cap on poker machine entitlements for
pubs and clubs by more than 3000 through an amendment to the Gaming Machines
Regulation.
“We have also committed to changing the
gaming machine entitlement forfeiture scheme so that for every two entitlements
traded, one will be forfeited. This will further reduce the number of poker
machines allowed in NSW.”
