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Pokies cap lowered by NT government, stops short of banning new machines in Alice Springs venues

The NT government has lowered the cap on pokies to 1,659, down from 1,699. (ABC)

The Northern Territory government will permit additional gaming machines to be installed in Alice Springs' pubs and clubs while announcing a modest lowering of the cap on pokies in the NT. 

There had been widespread community backlash since hospitality giant Iris Capital put in applications for 60 additional machines in its Alice Springs businesses last year, leading the NT government to order a moratorium on approving new pokies for the town's community venues.

On Tuesday, the NT government lowered the cap to 1,659, down from 1699, bringing an end to the nine-month moratorium.

It means 20 additional licences can still be granted under the new cap.

Chansey Paech standing in front of microphones, with pokies in the background
Chansey Paech said the government heard the Alice Springs community "loudly and clearly". (ABC News: Matt Garrick)

Iris Capital has now withdrawn applications for 40 machines across two of its venues, according to the government, but applications for 20 additional machines at the Todd Tavern and Gap View Hotel "remain in train".

Government 'aware' of problem gambling

Speaking to ABC Radio Alice Springs, Gaming Minister Chansey Paech said the government was aware of the significant harms caused by problem gambling.

"The government heard loudly and clearly the community sentiment around the community wanting no new machines in new venues," he said.

"There will certainly be, under a Territory Labor government, less and less, not more and more, pokies across the Territory."

The announcement marks the third reduction to the cap since Labor returned to power in the Northern Territory in 2016.

Mr Paech, who is also the NT Attorney-General, said there was a legal obligation to assess the existing applications against laws that were in place at the time they were submitted.

The Territory's two casinos operate under separate agreements with the government and are not subject to a cap.

a golden sign for an Alice Springs tavern
Applications for 20 additional pokies at the Gap View Hotel and Todd Tavern remain under consideration. (ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin)

Decision 'a win for community'

Campaign group No New Pokies Mparntwe described the announcement, which will see Uncles Tavern and the Mercure Resort remain free of pokies, as a "significant win in a battle against new pokies".

"It is a win for everyone who loves to go to Uncles and sit out the front in the sun or get on the mic on a Friday night," said Emma Buckley Lennox, a member of the campaign group.

"It’s a win for the families who love to take their kids to the Barra on Todd for a feed and a dip."

A young woman stands in front of an anti-pokies poster in Alice Springs
Emma Buckley Lennox was hopeful the NT government would reject all the applications. (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson)

However, Ms Buckley Lennox expressed disappointment over the Gaming Minister's decision not to reduce the cap further.

"The NT Government could have stopped new pokies in their tracks by reducing the cap by another 20 machines, to 1,639," she said.

"The only reason they did not do this is to appease Iris Capital, a multi-billion-dollar interstate company.

"This is disappointing given we know more than 98 per cent of locals and tourists surveyed by our group do not want more pokies in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), in any venues."

Iris Capital, the largest private employer in the town, has been contacted for comment.

Since purchasing Lasseters Casino in Alice Springs in 2021, Iris Capital has added almost 150 pokies to the venue, bringing the total number of machines to 400.

The NT government also announced casinos will soon be subject to a new code of practice that "prioritises harm minimisation" and provides direction to "ensure regulations of the Gaming Control Act are met".

Mr Paech said the government is continuing to promote responsible gambling and fund research and community-based support services.

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