Pokies' rejection of new $5 may force bigger bets

By Geesche Jacobsen, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 Jan 2001

The minimum amount gamblers can put into some poker machines could rise to $10 under a plan to modify machines so they no longer accept $5 notes.

The idea - an effort to avoid the high cost of enabling the machines to accept the new Federation $5 note - has outraged anti-gambling advocates, who say it could increase the amount of money lost by gamblers.

It comes two months after the Liquor Administration Board proposed technical changes including a reduction of the maximum bet, and a ban on $50 and $100 notes - plans criticised by clubs and hotels, with whom the Government is reported to be working on a compromise.

It is understood Canterbury-Bankstown Leagues Club has no gaming machines which accept coins, but no-one at the club was available for comment yesterday.

But a Uniting Church leader, the Rev Harry Herbert, a member of the Casino Community Benefit Fund, said the move came as the Government was trying to stop people being forced to put larger amounts of money into poker machines.

"It simply means that people spend their money more quickly," he said.

It would reportedly take several months to change the software of the State's 100,728 gaming machines.

Mr Herbert said there was a danger that the block on $5 notes could become permanent.

A Fairfield councillor, Thang Ngo, said clubs were encouraging patrons to use all the credit they put into machines through complicated procedures for redeeming unused credit.

Some machines in large clubs and pubs did not accept coins, Cr Ngo said.

"If pokies do not accept $5 notes, which is the lowest value denomination, then it may force many to, in effect, double their bet to $10, the next denomination up."

A spokeswoman for the Gaming Minister, Mr Face, said technical standards and the use of note acceptors in gaming machines was under review, and the proposal would be investigated.