CLUBS and pubs with poker machines should not be allowed to offer free child care, the Productivity Commission gambling inquiry has been told.
A submission from the St Vincent de Paul Society of Queensland warns current proposals to reduce problem gambling do not go far enough.

It recommends reducing drinking hours in hotels, forcing gamblers to take regular breaks from poker machines and removing creches from all gaming venues, The Courier-Mail reports.

“It seems that free child care is available at many venues,” the submission says. “We believe that casinos and other gambling venues are not suitable places for children.”

The St Vincent de Paul Society submission comes on the heels of a campaign by anti-pokies activist Paul Bendat to keep kids away from gambling venues.

Although children under 18 are not allowed into gaming areas, Mr Bendat said youngsters in adjacent dining areas often had a full view of the pokies “light-and-sound show”.
The Lutheran Church’s committee for social and bioethical questions also has weighed into the debate, raising concerns about the “grooming” of a new generation of gamblers.

Its submission to the Productivity Commission says children are being enticed into game parlours with “jackpot” signs and games mimicking poker machines.

It says television game shows and primetime lottery promotions also help normalise gambling for children.

“In child protection terms, this would be called grooming,” the Lutheran submission says.

But Clubs Queensland spokeswoman Rebecca Grisman said child care facilities in clubs were always “completely removed” from gaming areas and strictly supervised.

And she warned closing down free childcare within clubs would disadvantage many families who used their local club to have an affordable dinner out or night of entertainment.

“You’d be cutting off the socialising opportunities, in a safe environment, in a family friendly environment, for a lot of parents,” she said.

Queensland Hotels Association president Tom McGuire said he was not aware of any pubs offering supervised child care and any play areas for children were well away from gambling areas.

Latest figures from Queensland’s Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing show gamblers playing the pokies in the State’s clubs and pubs lost a combined $150 million in March.

That was up from total player losses of $133 million in February.