New self-service TAB betting machines could go into community and sporting clubs across WA, particularly in country areas, under a plan by Racing and Wagering WA.
It has been trying the new machines, on which punters bet on horse races, over the past 18 months.
Financial counsellors said it would lead to an increase in gambling-related social problems.
The terminals are aimed at making it viable for licensed country clubs in particular to have a betting venue by eliminating the need for staff to run the service.
Clubs WA said it wanted the terminals put in at least 50 community venues such as bowling and sporting clubs over the next two years.
The Australian Hotels Association said many of its members also were keen to install the machines.
RWWA chief executive Richard Burt said the machines could be put only in licensed premises which had to pass a strenuous social audit which involved RWWA writing to local financial councillors and police to ensure that the terminals would not have an adverse impact. They also had to be vetted by the Gaming and Wagering Commission.
“Because we haven’t had self-service terminals before, it means that hotels or clubs that couldn’t previously justify having someone stand there and take bets, because it’s a fairly low margin business, this suddenly becomes interesting to them,” he said. “We are transitioning from serviced venues and we’re adding a few more (terminals) where sporting and bowling clubs in particular put their hands up and say yes we want to have one.”
Mr Burt said requests from clubs would determine how many machines went into service but he expected about 20 new venues over the next two years, equal to less than 10 per cent of the TAB network.
Clubs WA executive director Peter Seaman said at least 50 clubs were interested. “They are an ideal tool for community clubs,” he said. They would strengthen local clubs which provided a social outlet and helped people feel part of their community. The peer aspect of clubs would ensure there were effective constraints on gambling, unlike the wave of internet betting options available.
New figures show that demand for gambling-related counselling services at Centrecare jumped more than 20 per cent in 2007, after remaining steady for the previous five years.
The Barnett Government has adopted the Carpenter government’s gambling policy, saying it would maintain the ban on poker machines at Burswood Casino and would not allow them in pubs and clubs.
Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron said yesterday he supported Racing and Wagering’s plan because there was a well-defined approvals process that examined any public interest issues.
Shadow racing minister Mick Murray said he saw no problem with the new machines, given that they would be in licensed premised and allowed gambling breaks between races, unlike poker machines.
Centrecare team leader Amanda Cole said that despite stringent controls on the gambling industry and on new venues, any increase would lead to a rise in problem gambling.
She said about 2 per cent of Australian’s had a gambling problem, defined as a person spending more they could afford in time or money on gambling pursuits. It had an insidious effect in the rest of their lives, be it relationship problems or ability to study and work.
(Credit: The West Australian)
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