Three thousand poker machines will be removed from South Australia in a bid to reduce problem gambling.
SA Premier Mike Rann praised the new pokies laws, that came into force on Monday, saying no other government in Australia had moved to tackle problem gambling on such a scale.
But SA No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon said the laws would have little effect.
"Whilst I welcome any reduction in the number of pokies, the people of South Australia need to know that Treasury's own budget forecasts have stated that this measure (of reducing pokies by 3,000) will lead to a reduction of the rate of growth of gambling losses from 5.5 per cent to five per cent - big deal," Mr Xenophon said.
He said an immediate ban on smoking would have had a much bigger impact in reducing problem gambling, citing a Victorian smoking ban in poker machine venues and the casino that resulted in up to a 15 per cent reduction in pokies losses.
In SA, smoking bans in gaming venues will not take effect until October 2007.
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