Poker machine ads to be banned

December 31, 2004

VICTORIA will ban all forms of advertising that promote poker machine gambling from tomorrow in a bid to cut the $2.29 million annual outlay in the state.

The ban applies to all forms of advertising outside gaming areas including print, television and radio advertisements and unsolicited mail.

Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos said the ban would be enforced through public complaints to a hotline.

"This is to protect Victorians, particularly vulnerable Victorians trying to quit problem gambling habits," he said.

"Victoria already has the second-lowest number of poker machines per person in Australia and we've taken some of the most severe regulation that the industry has seen," he said.

Australian Hotels Association Victorian branch chief executive Brian Kearney said the Government had signalled the changes well in advance and the association would monitor them.