‘Not just harmless fun’: MP explains why ‘addictive’ poker machines should be banned

Independent New South Wales, MP Helen Dalton, explains why she thinks poker machines should be banned across the country.

“Poker machines are not just harmless fun they are addictive and we know that,” Ms Dalton said.

“We know that there is a part of the brain that is really receptive, like cocaine, and of course people get in that way, where they start to play poker machines regularly.

“So, there are about 91,000 poker machines in New South Wales and I believe it's more like $12 billion Australians lose to gambling every year.

“We know the fallout for gambling with broken marriages, kids on welfare, suicide, all of those things, financial crime as well.

“And of course, the volunteers in our communities are there to pick up the pieces and try and put their lives back together again.”

Ms Dalton and Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance Executive Director, Brian Marlow, joined Sky News host, Danica De Giorgio, to discuss whether or not poker machines should be banned in Australia.