Massachusetts' Future

A front row seat to this controversy illuminates how citizens no longer matter over the profits of the Gambling Industry.

Widespread Gambling Addiction is promoted, a costly and draining issue, citizens have lost their voices to the Fools' Gold of increased revenues, campaign contributions and lobbyists.

Local control is sacrificed on the altar of Gambling, in spite of rosy promises.

A preview of the future of Massachusetts.

NSW deals with its own pokies pressure

The New South Wales Government has been accused of ignoring problem gambling through recent changes to poker machine laws.

Premier Barry O'Farrell struck a deal with NSW clubs in the lead-up to last year's state election.

A memorandum of understanding was struck which led to legislative changes allowing clubs to build another site without giving up as many poker machine licenses.

The concession was initially only granted in the proposed club was within a new housing estate.

But on Friday the minister responsible, George Souris, expanded the concession to clubs building within a kilometre of a new housing estate.

Opposition Leader John Robertson says Mr Souris has undermined Federal Government efforts to tackle problem gambling.

"We have a government in New South Wales that's actually trying to make it easier for clubs to relocate poker machines around the state, while we've got a Prime Minister who's trying to look at how we can address problem gambling," he said.

"The contrast couldn't be more stark. Barry O'Farrell, who wants to allow and make it easier for poker machines to be relocated, and a Prime Minister who is at least looking at ways that we can reduce problem gambling."

Greens MP John Kaye shares Labor's concerns.

"It has made the laws easier for clubs to move their pokers machines into areas of high concentration of potential addiction," Dr Kaye said.

Meanwhile a spokesman for Premier Barry O'Farrell says the the State Government will hold talks with the Commonwealth about potentially extending a trial of pre-commitment technology into NSW.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on the weekend that mandatory pre-commitment for poker machines would be trialled in the ACT.

The Federal Government wants clubs just across the border in Yass and Queanbeyan to be included, to stop punters from skirting the trial.

Mr O'Farrell's spokesman says the Premier is opposed to the technology but will wait for a full briefing.