Little change likely in proportion of Burswood gaming machines

29/9/02
Should the Gaming Commission of Western Australia approve an extra 200 machines for Burswood Casino, the number of machines per head of WA's population will still be much the same as in 1990.
In 1990 Burswood had about one (0.92) electronic gaming machines per 1,000 people (see schedule below). If the Gaming Commission approves the extra 200 machines, this rate would remain about the same (1.03 machines per 1,000 people).
Racing and Gaming Minister Nick Griffiths said today, however, that any increase in the number of gaming machines at Burswood depended - as it always had done - on independent decisions by the Gaming Commission.
The State Government indicated to Burswood - as part of the negotiations for amendments to the casino agreement (announced last Tuesday) - that it had no objection to the casino applying to the Gaming Commission for an extra 200 machines up to the year 2004.
The amendment package - to be introduced in a Bill to Parliament before Christmas - includes a 33-and-a-third per cent increase (from 15 to 20 per cent) in tax on Burswood's gaming machines, a 20 per cent increase (from 15 to 18 per cent) in tax on Burswood's table games, and a progressive 27 per cent cut (from 15 to 11 per cent) in tax on Burswood's international business.
The issue of any extra machines for Burswood is not part of the amendments package.
Mr Griffiths said that, based on forward estimates for the next four years, the proposed casino tax changes would generate a (conservative) additional $13million for the WA community. The new arrangements would mean the total casino tax paid in this period would be about $200million.
Mr Griffiths said that the commission would make such decisions based on harm minimisation, security and surveillance concerns.
"Western Australia had one of the nation's lowest incidences of problem gambling, due to the containment of gaming machines at Burswood Casino," he said.
"A productivity commission report in 1999 said that whatever measure was used, WA has significantly less gambling problems than New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The Government's intended continued containment of electronic gaming machines to Burswood is designed to ensure that we maintain this good record."
The Minister said he had recently ensured that Burswood would provide extra funds for helping deal with the social impacts of gambling.
"In May this year, I established the Gaming Community Trust, which will use Burswood's unclaimed winnings, mainly from Keno, to help community-based projects - including services to help deal with problem gambling," Mr Griffiths said.
"At the end of August, the Gaming Community Trust had access to about $678,000.
"This money is on top of the $200,000 already contributed annually - by the Casino, the TAB and the Lotteries Commission - towards programs for problem gamblers."
Australian State Comparisons of Numbers of Gaming Machines