Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A report has found there are too many gambling machines in South Australian
regional areas and it is having a negative effect on communities. The Centre
for Economic Studies tabled the report at a Provincial Cities Association
meeting on Friday. It found the state-wide reduction in the number of poker
machines has not reduced problem gambling in country areas. Chief executive
Ian McSporran says the association is getting final comments on the report
from country councils and will ask the Independent Gambling Authority to
address the problem. "The number of gaming machines within provincial cities
has been excessive as compared to those per capita in the Adelaide
metropolitan area and we see it as a regressive taxation on the people," he
said.