AN anti-poker machine reform rally at Braidwood on Wednesday attracted the support of federal and state politicians along with more than 400 protesters from across the Eden-Monaro electorate chanting and heckling.
The rally is the first in a series organised by Clubs Australia against reforms to curb problem gambling.
Similar to the Federal Oppositions strategy against the carbon tax, Clubs Australia is targeting marginal seats in federal electorates held by MPs that have shown tacit support for the reforms.
Although details of the poker machine reforms continue to be discussed, and no legislation has been put to parliament, the club industry has been running an aggressive campaign for months to quash potential reforms.
Queanbeyan Kangaroos Club general manager Leigh Kiely said clubs would have to slash spending on employment, facilities and donations to charities and sporting groups if reforms were introduced.
“[We] need the community to send a strong message to Canberra that clubs are to be protected from this political madness,” Mr Kiely said.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie is the driving force behind the push for poker machine reform. He has been joined by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon.
One of the major changes slated by Mr Wilkie and his supporters has been mandatory pre-commitments for high-loss machines that allow punters to lose up to $1500 an hour.
The clubs have reacted angrily to demands for pre-commitments and suggested that problem gamblers would simply go online to lose their money if they were forced into pre-commitments for poker machines.
A significant amount of money is at stake for clubs. Australia's Productivity Commission stated some 40 per cent of losses on poker machines come from problem gamblers, which would be the target of these reforms.
On Wednesday Labor MP for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly appeared caught between the clubs in his electorate and the commitment made by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to Mr Wilkie on reforming poker machine policy.
Dr Kelly was heckled at the rally for not promising to vote against the reforms once introduced. However he did throw his weight behind the importance of introducing reforms that would not harm clubs.
“All of the 97 pubs and clubs in Eden-Monaro that have poker machines accept that something has to be done about problem gambling in Australia,” he said.
“The issue is how best to deal with it.
“There is still some way to go before we see specific measures put in place and in the meantime I will be arguing for options that do not result in any of our clubs or pubs becoming unviable or having to withdraw support to our community activities and organisations.
“At the end of the day problem gambling is an addiction and so a mental health problem. Any action that does not address this aspect will not achieve the desired outcome.”
A Clubs Australia spokeswoman said more than 1200 people were employed by clubs in Eden-Monaro, with more than 140 of those in Queanbeyan.
She said the majority of club gaming revenue comes from recreational gamblers. Clubs believe that recreational gamblers would not apply for a precommitment card to play high-loss machines.
Clubs Australia claims this could lead to a 30 to 40 per cent drop in social gambling and force clubs to cut community services.
“Ten years ago 85 per cent of a club's income on average came from gaming,” the spokeswoman said.
“Today that figure has been reduced to 65 per cent.”
She said as clubs continued to diversify their revenue streams the dependence on poker machines would fall.
Clubs Australia estimates there are about 23,400 problem gamblers in NSW.
Based on Clubs Australia figures there are about 160 problem gamblers in Queanbeyan.
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