Sydney council wants to limit pokies

A council in Sydney asked to limit poker machine licenses in the area and asked other councils to do the same.

Australia.- A Sydney council asked the New South Wales state government to limit poker machine licenses in the territory. The northern Beached Council announced late last week their support to the motion and asked other councils across the state to send a message to the government.

Liberal councillor Pat Daley told the Australian Associated Press that the state government of both political persuasions has been addicted to poker machine revenue for too long and that it’s causing “great harm to the community.”

“Half a million dollars a day is being wasted by people who in some cases can least afford it … enough is enough,” she added. With 200k poker machines in Australia, half of them are located in New South Wales and the state has the highest betting amount possible. Alliance for Gambling Reform deputy chair Allison Keogh said: “The government needs to start looking at protecting the people they represent.”