Inquiry seeks pokies review
By LAURA ANDERSON
18jan06

AN INQUIRY into gaming machine entitlements has recommended a review of capped pokie prices.

The Independent Gambling Authority inquiry, released yesterday, also recommended the application fee over the trading of machines be reviewed.

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon said the decision to have capped entitlements meant smaller pubs and country pubs had "no incentive to trade their machines". "The Government needs to change the fixed price system or introduce new legislation to further cull machines," he said.

"The Government caved in to the pokies barons over the capping of poker machine prices."

Gambling Minister Michael Wright said 2202 machines had been cut "including 2168 machines that were compulsorily removed as a result of our ground-breaking legislation". "The decision to sell gaming machine entitlements remains voluntary for all venues and a fixed price of $50,000 was set with the support of the industry and welfare sector."

Last Update: Tuesday, January 17, 2006. 8:48pm (AEDT)

ABCNewsonline

Wright rejects pokies trading system criticism

The State Government has rejected criticism over how it set up a trading system to reduce the number of pokies in South Australia.

The findings of an Independent Gambling Authority (IGA) inquiry into the system has recommended the $50,000 fixed gaming machine trading price be reviewed.

No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon claims the State Government buckled to pressure from pokies barons and set the price too low.

But Gambling Minister Michael Wright says that is not true.

"We consulted broadly and widely - the welfare sector and the industry agreed to the fixed price," he said.

"The other thing, which is very telling, is that when compared to Queensland on a per capita basis, and they of course sell to the highest bidder, we are actually doing better than Queensland.

"So price would not seem to be the be and end all as is suggested by Mr Xenophon."

The State Government says so far 2,200 gaming machines have been cut as part of legislation that aims to remove 3,000 pokies from South Australia.

Bayside Leader
Edition 1 -MON 16 JAN 2006, Page 001
Bets off in Bayside
By CHRIS JACKSON

POKIE addicts are bypassing Bayside to place their bets, with the city recording the lowest amount of gaming expenditure in Melbourne last financial year.
Players poured $15.3 million into Bayside's 225 machines last year less than half that spent in Port Phillip and less than a quarter of what was spent in Glen Eira and Kingston.
The biggest amount spent on poker machines was $119.4 million in Monash, with $2.3 billion spent in Victoria.
On average, Bayside residents spent $219 for each adult, compared with the Melbourne average of $665.
Council of Gamblers Help Services executive officer Eddie Chapman said despite the lower spending on pokies in Bayside, the amount was still too high.
``That's still $15.3 million that's been lost in the community, and it's not coming back by and large,'' he said.
``Even though Bayside may have a lower concentration of pokies machines, people still have ready access. You can access pokie machines in five minutes.''
In October, a leading anti-gambling expert told the Bayside Leader the city was in danger of becoming a ``pokies' mecca'' for the gaming industry because of the low number of machines (Bayside Leader, October 18).
Mr Chapman said the State Government should look at restricting the number of machines and venues when gaming licences were reviewed.
``Bayside should make it clear it likes it the way it is,'' he said.
Phone Gamblers' Helpline on 1800 156 789 or Gambling Help Southern on 9575 5353.
Section:  NEWS

Betfair under starter's orders

Hobart
January 16, 2006 - 6:51PM
The Age

Australia's first internet betting exchange will open for business next month but much of the racing industry is already betting it will lose.

Betfair - a wagering facility that allows members to back losers - was granted a licence today by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission.

The announcement follows state government approval in November for the joint venture between UK-based Betfair and the Packer family's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL).

PBL executive chairman James Packer said in a statement today the licence was a significant step forward for the wagering industry.

But the racing industry said the licence - which effectively ends TAB's virtual monopoly on horse race gambling - would strip profits from state authorities and encourage corruption.

Australian Racing Board (ARB) chairman Andrew Ramsden said the decision to licence Betfair would leave a sour taste in the mouth of anyone who genuinely cared about the national racing industry.

"Within Australia, seven states and territories have listened carefully to the racing industry's integrity concerns and given a resounding no to betting exchanges," he said.

"One state has looked at the issue in purely selfish terms."

Mr Ramsden said the ARB would look closely at the conditions imposed in Betfair's licence to ensure they fulfilled Tasmania's promise to "raise the bar" of probity and integrity.

He said most states still prohibited interstate wagering operators from advertising.

Meanwhile, Victoria had introduced new legislation prohibiting the publication of race fields without approval and Queensland had enacted legislation to make it unlawful for residents to use a betting exchange, he said.

Tasmanian Thoroughbred Council chairman Geoff Harper said he was "yet to be convinced" of the economic benefits of Betfair, which had promised the local racing industry up to $40 million by 2009-10.

"If at the end of five years, Betfair decides to move elsewhere in Australia, we're going to be sitting up like a shag on a rock," he said.

Betfair director of corporate and business affairs Andrew Twaits said today rigorous scrutiny of the company had alleviated most community concern.

"Invariably people have seen that the sky isn't going to fall in" if Betfair was licensed, he said.

In contradiction to the ARB, Mr Twaits said all states would be able to use Betfair Australia from February 7.

He also dismissed concern for profit projections, saying figures put forward during the approvals process erred on the conservative side.

Tasmanian Racing Minister Jim Cox said Betfair would boost the racing and IT sectors.

"Betfair brings with it unprecedented improvements in probity and integrity to racing, huge funding increased to the local racing industry and at least 150 new jobs for Tasmania," he said.

The approval has haunted Premier Paul Lennon, who was last week accused of accepting thousands of dollars in free hospitality from the Packer family's Crown Casino just days before signing the Betfair contract.

Mr Lennon dismissed calls for his resignation, denying he had misled parliament or acted improperly.

He told reporters it was impossible the upgrade could have influenced him because Cabinet had already made its decision on October 24.

But Mr Lennon told state parliament on October 25 that the decision was still to be reached.

The premier would not comment on the scandal today, but said he was pleased Betfair had passed the gaming commission's requirements.

"We introduced legislation to parliament that gave the gaming commission the power, if they were satisfied that an applicant that met the necessary requirements, to issue a licence and that's what happened," he said.

- AAP