A broad and overwhelming majority of Canberrans think poker machines are hurting the community and support five key reforms aimed at minimising harm and ensuring public safety.
The ReachTEL poll, commissioned by Anglicare in conjunction with the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance, found that 70 percent of Canberrans believe that poker machines do more harm than good for the community. Only 14 percent think the reverse.
But most significantly, said Anglicare CEO Jeremy Halcrow, there was broad support for reform across all demographic categories including by age and political affiliation.
“Support for gambling reform in the ACT crosses party lines,” he said. “There are large majorities supporting all reform measures among voters for all parties. This shows that gambling reform is not a matter of partisan politics, it is a matter of public health and safety.”
Mr Halcrow said he was particularly heartened to see that nearly 3 in 4 Canberrans want to see community contributions administered by an body independent of the Clubs.
“It is very clear that Canberrans are sceptical that the Clubs will distribute the proceeds from poker machines in the most appropriate way,” he said. “We strongly believe that the ACT Government must put in place an independent body that is not captured by industry. It is important that strong community benefit provisions are in place to ensure that profits from poker machines actually go to fund crisis and counselling services that will help heal those people harmed by the gambling sector.”
Other key finding of the poll include:
- The reform measure that had the strongest level of community support was the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment prior to playing the machines (Over 80% support)
- Canberrans want a crackdown on the loophole that allows cash to be accessed using EFTPOS machines in poker machine venues: 78% of people want to see access to cash in venues limited to $250 per card per day.
- There is a wide-ranging support for changes to make poker machines less harmful such as maximum $1 bets (78%)
- Nearly 43 percent of Canberrans want a “large decrease” in poker machine numbers with only 8 percent supporting an increase.
Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance Co-Chair Rebecca Vassarotti said that the poll should be sufficient impetus for real action on reform.
“The strength of community support for reasonable measures to prevent community harm is a wake-up call for politicians who have been frightened into inaction by industry.”
Mr Halcrow said Anglicare’s frontline experience seeing the damage caused by poker machines motivated them to conduct this poll. Anglicare provides a range of crisis services in Canberra as well as problem gambling counselling across southern NSW towns including in Queanbeyan.
“We are very concerned by the level of harm being caused by poker machines,” Mr Halcrow said. “Anglicare commissioned this poll because we remain concerned that the regulatory regime for poker machines in the ACT remains weighted against vulnerable people and the limited harm prevention measures that are in place are very weak compared to those found overseas and in most other States.”
NOTE ON POLLING AND VOTING INTENTIONS
The ReachTEL poll was commissioned by Anglicare (NSW South & ACT) and conducted on the night of July 27 surveying over 700 residents of the ACT.
The poll included two questions on voting intentions to aid Anglicare’s understanding of what factors may influence people’s view of gambling reform.
It is noted that the poll results do indicate there has been a swing away from the Barr Labor Government since the 2016 election and swings towards the Liberals and the Greens.
Please note that Anglicare takes a strictly non-partisan approach to its advocacy and won’t provide commentary to the media on the voting intention results. Anglicare’s focus is on policy discussion not commenting on the political “horse race”.
Full polling data 28th July 2017
FINAL RESULTS
ReachTEL conducted a survey of 717 residents across the Australian Capital Territory. The survey was conducted during the night of 27th July 2017.
Question 1:
If an ACT Territory election were to be held today, which of the following would receive your first preference vote?
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Labor | 33.5% | 35.5% | 31.3% | 34.7% | 28.0% | 38.1% | 32.0% |
| Liberal | 34.9% | 34.4% | 35.3% | 18.4% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 43.2% |
| The Greens | 11.9% | 9.6% | 14.2% | 14.3% | 18.7% | 14.8% | 7.4% |
| Other/independent | 9.6% | 9.3% | 10.0% | 22.4% | 11.2% | 9.4% | 7.4% |
| Undecided | 10.2% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 10.2% | 8.4% | 11.2% | 10.1% |
Question 1a:
Being undecided to which of the following do you have even a slight leaning?
| Total | |
| Labor | 28.8% |
| Liberal | 38.4% |
| The Greens | 13.7% |
| Other/independent | 19.2% |
Note: Only respondents who answered ‘Undecided’ to Question 1 were asked Question 1a
Question 1b:
Which of the following two candidates would you preference higher?
| Total | |
| Labor | 61% |
| Liberal | 39% |
Note: Only respondents who answered ‘The Greens’, or ‘Other’ to Question 1/1a were asked Question 1b
Question 2:
During the last 12 months, have you played poker machines?
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Yes | 17.3% | 15.6% | 19.1% | 26.5% | 15.0% | 14.3% | 18.6% |
| No | 82.7% | 84.4% | 80.9% | 73.5% | 85.0% | 85.7% | 81.4% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Yes | 17.3% | 15.4% | 19.2% | 4.7% | 24.6% | 24.7% |
| No | 82.7% | 84.6% | 80.8% | 95.3% | 75.4% | 75.3% |
Question 3:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Overall gambling on poker machines does more harm than good for the community?”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 49.5% | 48.2% | 50.9% | 55.1% | 57.0% | 52.5% | 44.4% |
| Agree | 20.4% | 21.4% | 19.3% | 12.2% | 17.8% | 18.8% | 23.4% |
| Undecided | 15.9% | 19.2% | 12.5% | 18.4% | 14.0% | 17.5% | 15.1% |
| Disagree | 8.5% | 6.0% | 11.1% | 10.2% | 8.4% | 7.2% | 9.2% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.7% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 4.0% | 8.0% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 49.5% | 53.3% | 43.6% | 70.6% | 40.6% | 41.1% |
| Agree | 20.4% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 17.6% | 17.4% | 23.3% |
| Undecided | 15.9% | 13.8% | 18.0% | 7.1% | 20.3% | 21.9% |
| Disagree | 8.5% | 5.8% | 11.2% | 3.5% | 14.5% | 8.2% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.7% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 1.2% | 7.2% | 5.5% |
Question 4:
Do you think the number of poker machines currently available in your local community should be increased, decreased or stay about the same?
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Large Increase | 2.1% | 1.1% | 3.1% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 2.7% |
| Small Increase | 6.1% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 7.1% |
| Stay the same | 30.8% | 30.0% | 31.6% | 36.7% | 22.4% | 29.6% | 33.4% |
| Small Decrease | 18.2% | 21.8% | 14.5% | 16.3% | 16.8% | 17.0% | 19.5% |
| Large Decrease | 42.8% | 40.9% | 44.7% | 40.8% | 52.3% | 47.1% | 37.3% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Large Increase | 2.1% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 4.3% | 1.4% |
| Small Increase | 6.1% | 4.2% | 8.4% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 9.6% |
| Stay the same | 30.8% | 28.8% | 36.8% | 11.8% | 36.2% | 34.2% |
| Small Decrease | 18.2% | 19.2% | 16.0% | 24.7% | 18.8% | 13.7% |
| Large Decrease | 42.8% | 46.7% | 36.0% | 58.8% | 36.2% | 41.1% |
Question 5:
In the ACT, people can bet up to $10 per ‘spin’ or button press on a poker machine.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Poker machines should have a maximum bet of $1 per spin.”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 64.9% | 67.2% | 62.5% | 49.0% | 61.7% | 68.6% | 65.7% |
| Agree | 13.0% | 14.2% | 11.6% | 12.2% | 12.1% | 13.5% | 13.0% |
| Undecided | 12.0% | 9.8% | 14.2% | 14.3% | 15.9% | 9.9% | 11.8% |
| Disagree | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 12.2% | 3.7% | 4.9% | 4.7% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.0% | 3.6% | 6.5% | 12.2% | 6.5% | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 64.9% | 67.9% | 61.6% | 69.4% | 65.2% | 60.3% |
| Agree | 13.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% | 17.6% | 13.0% | 11.0% |
| Undecided | 12.0% | 13.3% | 11.6% | 9.4% | 8.7% | 15.1% |
| Disagree | 5.2% | 3.3% | 8.4% | 1.2% | 5.8% | 4.1% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.0% | 3.8% | 5.2% | 2.4% | 7.2% | 9.6% |
Question 6:
There is currently no limit to the amount of money people can spend on poker machines.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“People should be limited to spending an amount they nominate before they start gambling on poker machines.”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 64.2% | 71.0% | 57.1% | 57.1% | 64.5% | 66.4% | 63.6% |
| Agree | 16.0% | 14.2% | 17.9% | 16.3% | 11.2% | 14.8% | 18.3% |
| Undecided | 8.8% | 6.3% | 11.4% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 8.1% | 8.6% |
| Disagree | 6.3% | 5.5% | 7.1% | 8.2% | 7.5% | 7.2% | 5.0% |
| Strongly Disagree | 4.7% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 8.2% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 64.2% | 65.4% | 62.0% | 70.6% | 62.3% | 61.6% |
| Agree | 16.0% | 16.7% | 14.8% | 18.8% | 17.4% | 13.7% |
| Undecided | 8.8% | 8.3% | 11.2% | 2.4% | 5.8% | 12.3% |
| Disagree | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.8% |
| Strongly Disagree | 4.7% | 3.3% | 5.6% | 2.4% | 8.7% | 5.5% |
Question 7:
Poker machine venues are required to give 8% of their gambling revenue to community causes.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Community contributions from poker machine venues should be distributed by an organisation that is independent from Clubs.”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 57.3% | 57.3% | 57.4% | 57.1% | 58.9% | 59.2% | 55.6% |
| Agree | 16.9% | 17.0% | 16.8% | 14.3% | 15.9% | 16.1% | 18.0% |
| Undecided | 17.3% | 20.3% | 14.2% | 18.4% | 17.8% | 17.5% | 16.9% |
| Disagree | 4.9% | 2.7% | 7.1% | 2.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3.6% | 2.7% | 4.5% | 8.2% | 3.7% | 1.8% | 4.1% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 57.3% | 60.0% | 59.2% | 64.7% | 43.5% | 46.6% |
| Agree | 16.9% | 14.2% | 17.2% | 10.6% | 26.1% | 23.3% |
| Undecided | 17.3% | 17.9% | 15.2% | 17.6% | 15.9% | 23.3% |
| Disagree | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 4.1% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 1.2% | 7.2% | 2.7% |
Question 8:
In ACT poker machine venues, there is currently no limit on the amount of cash that can be withdrawn using EFTPOS machines.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Cash withdrawals in poker machine venues should be limited to $250 per card per day.”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 63.6% | 66.9% | 60.2% | 38.8% | 64.5% | 69.1% | 63.3% |
| Agree | 14.5% | 13.7% | 15.3% | 16.3% | 11.2% | 14.8% | 15.1% |
| Undecided | 9.2% | 10.1% | 8.2% | 22.4% | 8.4% | 6.3% | 9.5% |
| Disagree | 6.1% | 5.2% | 7.1% | 6.1% | 9.3% | 6.3% | 5.0% |
| Strongly Disagree | 6.5% | 4.1% | 9.1% | 16.3% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 7.1% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 63.6% | 66.7% | 59.2% | 68.2% | 68.1% | 58.9% |
| Agree | 14.5% | 12.9% | 16.8% | 16.5% | 7.2% | 16.4% |
| Undecided | 9.2% | 8.3% | 9.6% | 7.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| Disagree | 6.1% | 6.3% | 7.2% | 4.7% | 4.3% | 5.5% |
| Strongly Disagree | 6.5% | 5.8% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 10.1% | 6.8% |
Question 9:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Poker machines increase economic inequality in Canberra”
| Total | Female | Male | 18-34 | 35-50 | 51-65 | 65+ | |
| Strongly Agree | 32.5% | 32.2% | 32.8% | 24.5% | 33.6% | 42.2% | 26.9% |
| Agree | 17.3% | 17.2% | 17.4% | 20.4% | 13.1% | 16.1% | 18.9% |
| Undecided | 37.1% | 41.8% | 32.2% | 44.9% | 42.1% | 28.7% | 39.9% |
| Disagree | 7.5% | 5.2% | 10.0% | 4.1% | 6.5% | 9.0% | 7.4% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.6% | 3.6% | 7.7% | 6.1% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 6.8% |
| Total | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Other | Und | |
| Strongly Agree | 32.5% | 33.3% | 28.8% | 47.1% | 27.5% | 30.1% |
| Agree | 17.3% | 17.5% | 19.2% | 14.1% | 14.5% | 16.4% |
| Undecided | 37.1% | 37.1% | 36.8% | 29.4% | 43.5% | 41.1% |
| Disagree | 7.5% | 8.3% | 7.6% | 4.7% | 7.2% | 8.2% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5.6% | 3.8% | 7.6% | 4.7% | 7.2% | 4.1% |
This survey was conducted using an automated telephone based survey system among 717 voters. The data has been weighted to reflect the population age and gender distribution as provided by the ABS. Telephone numbers and the person within the household were selected at random. Copyright ReachTEL Pty Ltd.
Media contact:
Amy Lanham (Anglicare Communications Manager): 0437 321 451
Jeremy Halcrow: 0401 533 266
