SA: Pokies phone in reveals disturbing practices, says MP

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2001
SA: Pokies phone in reveals disturbing practices, says MP

South Australian upper house No Pokies MP NICK XENOPHON says a pokies phone-in has
revealed disturbing practices by gaming venues.

Mr XENOPHON organised the phone-in for yesterday and today to allow members of the
public to dob in gaming venues with questionable practices.

He says calls received yesterday include one from a man who was given $30,000 credit
on his credit card to play pokies, with the transactions described as food and drink.

Calls were also received from a disabled woman who said her carer had used her pension
to fund his gambling problem.

Another man says he is losing $1,000 a day on the pokies at a hotel in Adelaide's northern
suburbs, and has been given free alcohol and meals to continue gambling.

He says this appears to be just the tip of the iceberg, when one considers findings
that there are up to 20,000 problem gamblers using poker machines in South Australia.

AAP RTV scl/wz

KEYWORD: POKIES (ADELAIDE)

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