The Victorian Opposition is not happy with the Government's new poker machine license regulations. They are saying that the new rules will still not stop big companies from dominating the market. Tattersalls and Tabcorp's have enjoyed a long running duopoly over the poker machines but it will be coming to an end when their licensed expire in four years.

Now any venue operator will be able to bid for a new 10 year license. Premier John Brumby says that no one operator will be allowed to own more then 35 percent of the poker machines that are available. "Theoretically there may only be as few as three, but that's not generally the way this works," he said.


But the Opposition Gaming Spokesman Michael O'Brien says that the cap is inadequate. "John Brumby has allowed it so that for example Tattersalls, Tabcorp and Bruce Mathieson could operate every pokie in Victoria," he said. He adds that the new model is about venues and not the big operators.

Mark Zirnsak is from the Interchurch Gambling Task Force and he is welcoming the changes and said, "Tabcorp and Tattersalls have enjoyed a very beneficial arrangement and clearly have extracted excessive profits at the community's expense. So today's announcement at least will dismantle those previous harmful arrangements".





- 2008-04-10