The Canberra Gambling and Reform Alliance (CGRA) is calling on political parties to commit to reducing gambling harm in the ACT, noting that the current government has delivered very little of what they agreed to do this term.
Co-Chair of CGRA, Jeremy Halcrow, says that “CGRA is frustrated by the political paralysis over the current parliamentary term that has not led to meaningful reform and will be taking a policy approach to the upcoming election.
Legislation before ACT parliament next week to reduce EGM licenses by a few hundred over the next few years will do little to protect people from the harms caused by poker machines. We need a complete overhaul of the regulatory regime.
We want to see the next ACT government support a reduction in the cost borne by individuals, families and the community due to gambling, including gambling related crime, health and mental health impacts, suicide and financial distress and hardship”, said Mr Halcrow.
The Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance has a vision for the Canberra community, and this is to have the lowest possible levels of harm from gambling in Australia.
The ACT is currently a long way from this goal. Canberra has one of the most unsafe and poorly regulated gambling regimes, not just in Australia but the world. The regulation of Canberra’s poker machines must ensure that consumers are protected against the harms associated with using a product that is known to cause harm.
“The CGRA considers best practice is to have the regime facilitated by a central monitoring system.
A central monitoring system will improve transparency and allow daily and monthly betting caps so people’s losses don’t get out of control”, said Mr Halcrow.
As the ACT elections approach, the CGRA is urging candidates to commit to six key policy reforms:
- Stronger public health approach to reduce harm across all demographics.
- Government support for club diversification to drive reduction in EGM licenses
- Improve transparency about the harm caused by individual gambling venues.
- Implement Australia’s safest carded gaming, ensuring gambling venues take responsibility for protecting vulnerable people.
- Safer gambling venue hours.
- Fund a gambling harm advocacy peak.
Gambling harm reduction advocates like Kate Seselja, Co-Chair of the CGRA and lived experience advocate, welcomes these asks, saying that commitment from the government is key in reducing gambling harm.
“It is well past time for the ACT Government to do the right thing via putting consumer safeguards around these dangerous, addictive products and put the public health and wellbeing of the Canberra community over club’s profits”.
Contact for interviews:
Jodie Kirkness, CGRA media contact.