Gambling venue staff will now have to complete a ‘responsible service of gambling’ course every three years and venues will have to publicly display the odds or ‘win rates’ of major prizes, under reforms to the NT’s gambling regulatory framework, announced by the Fyles Government ahead of a potential influx of new pokies entering Alice Springs.

The new regulations come into effect just weeks after the government was criticised for seeming to condone more than 60 new gambling machines for Alice proposed by company Iris Capital, that has recently purchased a number of pubs in the town.

Those are on top of the more than 100 new machines approved for Lasseters Casino, which was also recently purchased by Iris.

Independent Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley said Gaming Minister Chansey Paech was “sitting on the fence” when it comes to accepting responsibility for the damage that more machines, if approved, could have on vulnerable residents.

“We do not pay our NT Ministers to sit on the fence,” Ms Lambley said on Facebook.

“No matter how he spins it, our Attorney General and Minister for Gaming and Licensing, Chansey Paech, is the one who is ultimately responsible for all NT Poker Machine licenses. For Paech to suggest otherwise is completely misleading.

“Real leaders do not sit (or lean) on the fence. Real leaders have the courage to take a position on difficult issues and deal with the potential fallout from their unpopular decisions.

“Minister Paech obviously supports the applications for 60+ more poker machines in Alice Springs, but hasn’t got the courage to own it.”

Mr Paech told the ABC he was not responsible for making the decision to approve more pokies and said that rests with the Director of Gaming Machines.

“It would be inappropriate for myself to make comments on that given that the application has the potential for an appeal,” Mr Paech said.

New Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling announced

Mr Paech announced the new Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling on Monday that is also heavily reliant on self-exclusion for problem gamblers, stating they need to have better access to information about gambling addiction to “make informed decisions about their gambling habits and self-exclusion options”, by ensuring staff have “clearer training requirements”, the government said.

“Gambling providers are to make available the option of patrons excluding themselves from the gambling venue or site to patrons who feel they are developing a problem with gambling,” the new code states.

“Gambling patrons will be encouraged to take responsibility for their gambling activity and adherence to any exclusion deeds they enter into.”

While the self-exclusion conditions have always been a central strategy for the NT Government, a review into this practice showed that only 15 of 34 venues sampled by the government could produce the forms.

Mr Paech did not mention specific changes to the code in a statement on Monday, only commenting on the new online “refresher course” for staff.

“Government takes gambling-related harm very seriously,” he said.

“The online refresher course will ensure that staff are aware of all harm minimisation strategies that contribute to safe and responsible gambling environments.”

The new framework also forbids any offer of free or discounted drinks, meals or accommodation for gambling.

Changes to the Code include:

• Replacing the Community Liaison Officer role with Gaming Machine Managers as they hold a licence issued under the Gaming Machine Act 1995;
• All gaming areas must be marked and separated from general amenities, signage must be placed in a prominent position at each entrance to gaming areas;
• EFTPOS and ATM facilities have access to debit accounts only;
• Discounted accommodation, transportation, or the offer of jackpots, prizes and gifts;
• New staff engaged in the provision of gambling services must complete the nationally accredited unit of competency ‘SITHGAM001 – Provide Responsible Gambling Services’ within three months of commencing employment; and
• Hospitality staff must undertake and complete compulsory training every three years to ensure they are up to date with the latest harm minimisation strategies for problem gambling.

Hospitality NT welcomed the new course.