Updated February 08, 2017 14:31:18 <\/p>\n
People playing poker machines don't expect to win and consider it no different to going to a movie, a hospitality group representative has told Tasmania's gambling inquiry. <\/p>\n
A joint select committee, holding public hearings on the Government's gaming policy, was considering the future of Tasmania's poker machine industry along with the economic and social impact. <\/p>\n
On the table is a proposal to end Federal Group's monopoly licence to operate electronic gaming machines across the state, the inclusion of a community interest test for new machines, and lowering the cap on how many machines can operate. <\/p>\n
The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group told the inquiry that people who play pokies \"don't expect to win\". <\/p>\n
Greens MP Andrea Dawkins quizzed the group's David Curry on whether gamblers thought they'd win when using the machines. <\/p>\n
\"Do you think they understand that generally they're not going to win? she asked. <\/p>\n
Mr Curry said people did not expect to make a win. <\/p>\n
\"I don't think people generally expect to win when they play but what they are doing is buying a form of entertainment,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"They are enjoying that form of entertainment, it's no different to me going to the movies - whether it's a good movie or a bad movie - and buying an ice cream.\" <\/p>\n
Tasmanian author and historian James Boyce urged the committee not to ignore the state's two casinos in the debate on whether pokies should exist in pubs and clubs. <\/p>\n
Mr Boyce has written a book on the pokies, which is due to be released soon. <\/p>\n
\"I would plead with you to look at the issue of the casino,\" Dr Boyce told the committee. <\/p>\n
Mr Boyce said as soon as the casino was licensed to operate high intensity poker machines in 1994 it turned into a \"giant pokies barn\". <\/p>\n
\"They need to be treated as poker machine venues.\" <\/p>\n
He said the regulation of poker machines was failing vulnerable people, and there was a \"tale of two Tasmanias\". <\/p>\n
\"We have this vibrant growth with many things happening in Tasmania, and many people benefiting,\" he said. \"But we have this large group being left behind.\" <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dixon Hotel Group director Peter Dixon told the committee pubs in regional areas would struggle to stay viable without the revenue from poker machines. <\/p>\n
\"We speak from the heart on this, I've had 40 years in this industry and have invested in country areas and I can tell you the vast majority of our places would be broke without the pokies,\" Mr Dixon said. <\/p>\n
\"You get into the areas where we deal like Scottsdale, New Norfolk, Longford, Exeter, George Town - most of those venues haven't seen a tourist.\" <\/p>\n
Mr Dixon's group operates 35 pubs, 30 of which are in regional Tasmania. <\/p>\n
\"The bottom line is they are doing in tough, pokies aren't a big part of the business but that helps us buy.\" <\/p>\n
Topics: gambling <\/p>\n
First posted February 08, 2017 14:04:33 <\/p>\n
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Gambling inquiry: Pokies no different than going to the movies, hospitality group says - ABC Online<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated February 08, 2017 14:31:18 People playing poker machines don't expect to win and consider it no different to going to a movie, a hospitality group representative has told Tasmania's gambling inquiry. Continue reading