11 July 2001

Ref:29/2001

Qld TAB Inducements Cause Problems

SA Government Must Act

"The Queensland TAB has established a program of inducements to gamblers that are not acceptable in South Australia. This is of concern because of the strong speculation the Queensland TAB will purchase the SA TAB" said Rev Geoff Scott, Minister of the Mission, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide.

"The Queensland TAB provides a dollar for every $100 bet by a punter and has set a minimum bet of over $10 for phone betting, which is being actively promoted." Rev Scott explained. "This additional inventive to gamble will lead to more people with gambling problems. Already BreakEven Services, including those provided by UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, are seeing far too many gambling related problems. Over 20,000 people in SA have major gambling problems, it is obvious that we need to reduce this level of problem gambling and not add to it. While poker machines are the greatest cause of gambling problems, the TAB also produces significant levels of problem gambling"

"The SA Government has shown significant leadership over the last couple of months in capping Poker machines, establishing an Independent Gambling Authority and legislating other measures to start to reduce the adverse impacts of Poker Machines," said Mark Henley, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide representative to the Gaming Machine Review. "These actions must be backed up by firmness in negotiating the sale of the TAB. The State Government must be clear with any potential purchaser:

· Inducements to gamble are simply not allowable in SA.

· The operator of the TAB will be required to operate within an agreed Code of Conduct to be regulated by the Independent gambling Authority

· The TAB must operate within an Advertising Code of Practice"

"The bottom line in the sale of the TAB cannot be the sale price. The bottom line has got to be that the sale will not result in any more people having gambling problems" Rev Scott concluded.

 

For Further Comment
Mark Henley Senior Policy Officer	8202 5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob) 8370 1112 (h)