Woolworths, a major grocery chain that also holds numerous other companies under the Wesfarmers conglomerate, is causing a stir with its attempt to make their gambling machines (or “pokies” as they’re called in Australia) slightly less habit-forming. They’ve requested the manufacturers of these devices, including industry leaders like Aristocrat Leisure, to collaborate on testing units with a wager ceiling of just one Australian dollar.
Predictably, the manufacturers are not enthusiastic about this proposal, citing the financial burden of such an alteration.
Here’s the catch: Woolworths, alongside its competitor Coles, generates a significant profit from these machines. They operate over 3,000 of them in their hotels throughout Queensland and South Australia. However, Woolworths appears more apprehensive about the potential detrimental effects these devices can have compared to Coles, which possesses a staggering 12,000 machines and outright rejects implementing any restrictions on them.
The Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), the representative body for these gambling technology firms, swiftly intervened, asserting that this proposed modification would incur an astounding cost of 3 billion Australian dollars. They contend that numerous measures are already in effect to mitigate harm, such as device-specific limitations, optional pre-commitment mechanisms, enhanced player information screens, and location-based initiatives.
The Italian automaker also noted that gaming machines in Australia face some of the most stringent wagering caps and slowest speeds worldwide. They underscored their sector’s dedication to mitigation tactics for potential harm.
Speculation circulates that ClubsNSW could fully divest from the slot machine market if producers don’t relax these limitations. Such a significant action would be a major setback for the already struggling sector.