Xenophon, political party vow to slash pokies number by a third

Australian senate powerbroker Nick Xenophon and his political party have unveiled plans to cut the number of poker machines from 12,100 to 8,100 in a span of five years.

The Guardian reported that Xenophon’s SA Best Party has rolled out its newest gambling reform package, a policy described as “both a deal maker and a deal breaker.” Xenophon, who made a name in politics 20 years ago for his “No Pokies” battle cry, believed that the rethought package was “sensible and practical.”

“What we’ve said is that there’s flexibility within the way that you achieve it, but what we’re seeking to achieve is, I think, reasonable,” Xenophon said, according to the news outlet. “I suggest to you that if SA Best is in a position of power to hold the next government to account, then both Labor and the Liberals will become born again gambling reformers in a very short amount of time.”

In a nutshell, SA Best Party proposed to reduce the number of poker machines in hotels and clubs and introducing a system of AUD1 ($0.79) maximum bets per spin. The political party also wanted to get rid of the Eftpos access near the pokies and to prohibit the gambling industry from pouring money into the campaign kitties of political parties.