Pokies and Slot Machine Information

Pokies stunt backfires

July 28, 2006 on 5:14 pm | In Slot machine overviews |

A recent Pokies Blog article mentioned the intentions of the Victorian Liberal party to excommunicate 5,500 poker machines from that state if elected to power in the 2006 state elections.

In a public appearance the Opposition Leader chose to wield a pokie as a prop:

“Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu is being investigated by the state’s gaming authority after he campaigned to remove pokies, armed with a pokie machine “

Sydney Morning Herald

The pokie being used may have been an empty shell, either way the investigation will be interesting to watch.

Legislation in Victoria provides for a significant penalty for possession of a gaming machine:

“(1) A person must not manufacture, sell, supply, obtain or be in possession of a gaming machine or a restricted component except in accordance with this Act. Penalty: 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years or both.

(6) For the purposes of this section, a person is to be taken to be in
possession of a gaming machine or a restricted component if-

(a) the machine or component is in the physical possession or custody or control of the person or is on land or in premises occupied, used or controlled by the person; or

(b) the person controls access, either solely or jointly with other persons, to the machine.

A penalty unit is $100. There is a handy exclusion to the above section:

(4) A person may manufacture, sell, supply, obtain or be in possession of a gaming machine or restricted component if-

(a) the machine or component is for use outside Victoria; and

(b) the person has the written authority of the Commission.”

Lets hope for the Opposition Leader that he sought the written permission.

There is a nice warning here for ordinary folk - don’t possess a gaming machine for private use in Victoria. From time to time they come up for sale on Ebay - always check before purchasing that you are allowed to own such goods in your state.