The Independent Senator for South Australia and confirmed anti-pokies advocate, Nick Xenophon, is to introduce a Private Senator’s Bill to make one dollar the maximum permitted bet on any poker machine in Australia. He will introduce the Bill during the next session of parliament and believes it is time for the Prime Minister and the Government to immediately adopt this recommendation in order to reduce problem gambling. "This will be the first step in reducing the harm caused by poker machines," Xenophon said.

According to the Senator he has been opposed to poker machines since working as a suburban lawyer and seeing the effect they had on some individuals and their families. His latest move follows a report by the Productivity Commission, which has recommended the maximum one dollar bet to limit possible losses playing the gaming machines to A$120 an hour instead of the present A$1,200. The Commission also recommended reducing the speed of machines.

Xenophon commented, "$120 is still a lot of money to most people, but this is an interim measure recommended by the Commission and I believe it is a good step in the right direction.” He added, "This move won’t impact on people who occasionally gamble on poker machines, but it will go a long way in beginning to protect people who are addicted to poker machine gambling.” (E-06.29.10)

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