The number of pokies in community clubs are to be reduced, with the Territory launching an incentive scheme for their surrender.
Launching the scheme, Minister for Gaming, Shane Rattenbury said $15,000 would be provided for each gaming machine authorisation surrendered by gaming machine licensees in the ACT.
Mr Rattenbury said $1.74 million had been allocated towards the surrender incentive, which was expected to cut the number of gaming machine authorisations by up to 116.
He said that where all the authorisation certificates for a venue were surrendered and the venue became ‘pokie-free’, the incentive payment would be increased to $20,000 per authorisation.
“Community clubs should be a safe place for families and vulnerable people to meet and connect, but the exposure and access to electronic gaming machines can cause harm in our community,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“More than 15,000 Canberrans have experienced harm from their own gambling, and 43,000 Canberrans have had a family member with gambling issues,” he said.
“Our community clubs play an important role in the social life of many Canberrans, so we want to continue supporting our clubs while reducing the harm from pokies, and I believe these surrender incentive payments can assist to achieve that.”
Mr Rattenbury said the surrender incentive was an integral component of the Territory’s commitment to reducing the number of poker machines while supporting the sustainability of clubs.
The Minister said the incentive payments would be available through to 31 December, unless the fund was exhausted earlier.
