Government Addiction

As governments become increasingly addicted to the escalating social costs of Gambling Addiction, controls, loss limits, sensible policies get tossed out and gambling is expanded by whatever pretext is available.

Now you can blow $500 at the press of a button in NSW

STAR CITY CASINO has added 68 ''high limit'' poker machines to its public gaming floor, which will take bets of up to $500 on a single push of a button.

The installation of the machines, after an application by the casino to the Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority, coincides with the Productivity Commission's recommendation that governments introduce a betting limit of $1 for all machines.

There is now a maximum betting limit of $10 on poker machines in NSW. But as part of its 12-year, $100 million exclusive licence agreement with the state the casino is permitted 250 ''high limit'' machines.

Advertisement: Story continues below The machines have previously been available only in the casino's Sovereign Room, an invitation-only area catering to high rollers. Patrons seeking access must fill out an application which is reviewed by the management.

But a spokesman for Communities NSW, which incorporates the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, said the exclusivity agreement allowed for a ''private gaming area'' for the machines on the main floor.

''In July 2009 the authority approved an application by the casino for a change to the layout of the main gaming floor to include a rope barricade around certain banks of gaming machines, and podium to check membership,'' he said. ''The approval included requirements for the installation and operation of surveillance cameras and lighting.''

The only condition of entry to the new area is a patron must fill out a form to become a casino member.

A Star City spokesman said yesterday only one machine had a $500 bet limit; others had limits of $450, $400 and $350.

He said the main floor area was created about nine months ago for short-term visitors to Sydney unlikely to go to the Sovereign Room because of the application process. ''Infrequent visitors such as domestic and international tourists who do not have access to our Sovereign Room want to use this type of product.''

In June the Productivity Commission's final report on gambling recommended that by 2016 governments should impose a maximum betting limit of $1 on all poker machines to combat problem gambling.