Seventy local clubs met last week at the Laurieton United Services Club to discuss the controversial pokie licence technology being proposed by Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie in return for his support of the Gillard Government.

A trial of the experimental pokie licence technology was first recommended by the Productivity Commission 16 months ago and is also supported by the Salvation Army (Eastern Territory), Lifeline, and many of Australia’s leading gambling researchers.

ClubsNSW Deputy CEO Wayne Krelle spoke at the meeting saying the industry is to spend $9.5 million on the next stage of the media campaign against the technology they have dubbed “licence to punt”.

“We’re leaving nothing in the tank,” Mr Krelle said.

“This is the biggest issue ever to face the industry in terms of our survival.”

Mr Krelle said clubs and leading gambling researchers believe mandatory pre-commitment will be as effective “as issuing drink vouchers to an alcoholic.”

“This is just a deal to stay in government, it’s not about helping problem gamblers,” Mr Krelle said.

“Giving them a card where they can set their own limit is not going to help the addict.

“Clubs have done a lot to deal with problem gambling, it’s something that concerns us. The measures introduces so far has seen a halving of problem gambling in the last ten years to 0.4 per cent of the gambling population. We are looking at more ways to help including voluntary pre-commitment, more counselling, multi-venue self exclusions which is currently being trialled. We are talking with the Salvation Army about starting chaplaincy services in clubs.

“There’s a raft of things we already do to minimise harm. We have strong motivation to help problem gamblers.”

Mr Krelle said a report by auditors KPMG shows the implementation of the technology will cost local clubs $44 million, with the flow-on effects producing a dire result for the clubs and their entire community.

“‘For the sake of clubs and the local communities they support, the Federal Government needs to ensure any reform of gambling laws is based on evidence not simply because a deal was signed behind closed doors,” Mr Krelle said.

“We believe that with such major ramifications for our industry, it should at least be trialled before putting into place across 200,000 gaming machines in Australia. The ACT clubs have put up their hand to be the trial clubs.”