Poker machines are in the news again.

Federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said last week that whistleblowers had revealed that Woolworths’ hotels kept databases of customers who gamble, including their habits and behaviours.

In the Northern Rivers (nsw) region, Woolworths owns the Westower Tavern, which has 30 gaming machines that earn an estimated annual profit of $1,812,832, and the South Tweed Tavern, which has 25 machines that earn $1,901,927 annual profit. (As a wider example).

The greens have a plan to eliminate poker machines altogether: Viz.

Under the plan, the Greens will make machine owners pay, by introducing a Commonwealth levy on pokie machines at a fixed price per machine.

1 Fill the state revenue shortfall, by using those levies for a Commonwealth compensation fund, paid out annually to states once they agree to phase out pokies
2 Freeze the pokies, by ensuring State Governments may only access the compensation fund once they commit to freezing pokies licenses
3 Put an end to pokies, by ensuring State Governments may only access the compensation fund as they phase out pokie machine licenses for
4 Call for a conscience vote on poker machines from all parties in the South Australian Parliament
5 Set a target to phase out all poker machines from pubs and clubs in South Australia over the next 5 years
6 Progressively increase the tax paid by the Adelaide Casino on their poker machines, in recognition of the monopoly created.

Will there be any changes under the above pressures of reform the industry?

“Federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said last week that whistleblowers had revealed that Woolworths’ hotels kept databases of customers who gamble, including their habits and behaviours.”

Did he say how they did this? How could Woolworths get a database on someone, somewhere who uses pokies? I know nothing about them, never use them; but I don't see how any information could be obtained from someone putting coins into a machine. And, I would take anything said by sour-puss Wilkie with a grain of salt.

As for the Greens wanting to do away with pokies – tell 'em they're dreamin'. There is too much money in them for politicians give up. The original anti-pokies (no other policies) man, Xenophon, has 30 something candidates lined up for the SA election on 17th March. The SA Hotels Association has been campaigning strongly against him, and his popularity is dropping rapidly from when the hysterical media had him down as the next premier.

Wilkie and Xenephon are a couple of miserable nannies who just want to stop people doing what the want to do.

Ttbn. Thank you.

I get a lot of my info re "Greens think", from a small net publication "econet daily".
You may wish to google it up.
It's where I gleaned the info for this thread.
The econet daily services a small but vocal greens clique, on the far north coast of nsw, centered on Byron Bay.

Your question; how did they get the personal info of patrons to their hotel (Woolworths), I have no idea. But if correct, that act is highly intrusive. I'm assuming as I do, there is a degree of truth in every rumour.

*...As for the Greens wanting to do away with pokies – tell 'em they're dreamin'. There is too much money in them for politicians give up...*

Is it that simple?

I actually think this is one social issue worth the fight. And of course your correct to say the enemy on this score, is the AHA.
But are they bigger and tougher than the tobacco industry, which lost a resounding battle on the cigarette reforms.

Would you personally like to see an end to poker machines?

*...Wilkie and Xenephon are a couple of miserable nannies who just want to stop people doing what the want to do...*

Or the other way to look at it, Wilkie and Xenophon are protectors of the unprotected.
Can that be all bad?

All the poker machines in Australia would make a good man made reef somewhere off the coast.
That way they'd be doing some good.

Come on fellers, think of those poor souls living in South Oz.

They have to go to the pubs & clubs, because they can't afford to keep the lights & air conditioning on at home in the windmill state.

While they are there don't they deserve the chance to strike it lucky, with a big win on the pokies? A big win is their only hope of raising enough cash to migrate to some where liveable, after paying their renewable power bill.

All they have left to live for is the dream of escaping. Surely you are not so cruel as to deny them that, as well as lighting.

Do away with pokies- No way!

What about those of us that do not play them? We currently go to clubs and enjoy all the amenities that the fools that play pokies pay for.

It's our right as citizens and an Aussie tradition.