Gambling Watch Phone-Ins in two Australian States

Gambling action groups in South Australia and Victoria, two Australian states, are holding ‘phone-ins’ today and tomorrow to give the opportunity to express their concerns or experiences about gambling. In South Australia, the phone in is being co-ordinated by No Pokies parliamentarian Nick Xenophon and is time to coincide with the passing of legislation to do with poker machines through the South Australian parliament.

The following is in regards to the South Australian Phone in:

The aim of the phone-in is to:

• Encourage people to come forward if they have experienced gambling problems, either directly or because of a family member.
• Report a gambling venue that is doing the wrong thing (eg. giving credit, irresponsibly serving alcohol, or giving misleading information about the chance of winning on pokies).
• Suggest ideas for gambling law reform and programs to further assist those hurt by gambling.

WHEN: Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November 2004
TIME: 10.00am to 7.00pm.
TELEPHONE: 8237 9112, 8237 9113 OR 8237 9114.
Local call costs apply. Toll Free SA Country Callers call 1800 182 097.

In solidarity with the South Australian event, Victorian gambling action group Community Action on Pokie Problems (CAPP) will be holding their own phone-in.

In Victoria CAPP launched ‘G-Watch’ 12-months ago as a means of encouraging people who had experienced problems with pokies and those working inside the industry who had scruples about social damage being caused by pokies to speak out without fear. Now, with new responsible gambling legislation before State Parliament it’s time to test community mood once again. CAPP plans to support Nick Xenophon’s ‘Pokies Watch Phone-In’ by reactivating ‘G-Watch’ and encouraging people to call in and express concerns about the harm caused by pokies and other forms of gambling.

CAPP Chairperson Mike Hill said that CAPP members greatly admired Nick Xenophon and supported his battle to achieve tougher control over the industry in South Australia. ‘In extending ‘Pokies Watch Phone-In’ to Victoria we are ensuring Nick’s initiative will one day become a fully national ‘No-To-Pokies’ Day. 2004 is the first step in achieving that objective.’

The aim of the phone-in is to:

• Encourage people to come forward if they have experienced gambling problems, either directly or because of a family member;


• Allow industry whistleblowers to lodge their ‘inside stories’ with an organisation that will act upon them;


• Call on members of the community to report a gambling venue that is doing the wrong thing (eg. giving credit, irresponsibly serving alcohol, or giving misleading information about the chance of winning on pokies);and


• Suggest ideas for gambling law reform and programs to further assist those hurt by gambling.

WHEN: Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November 2004
TIME: 10.00am to 7.00pm.
TELEPHONE: 03 9380 1459

This is an effort to try and have some co-ordinated action on gambling and they should be supported.

GG