Queensland LNP promises to increase pokies cap for clubs with more than two premises

Poker machine numbers are capped at clubs and hotels in Queensland. (ABC)

Queensland's LNP opposition has promised to allow clubs with more than two premises to operate hundreds more poker machines if it wins the next state election.

The party has argued the move would allow larger clubs that have reached the cap on electronic gaming machines to amalgamate with smaller clubs facing closure.

The state Labor government has also indicated it is considering similar changes as part of a compact it has committed to with clubs.

Under laws in Queensland, clubs with a single premises are allowed to operate up to 300 gaming machines.

But this cap increases to 450 for clubs with two premises, and then 500 for clubs with three or more premises — as long as there are no more than 300 machines at an individual site.

The LNP has committed to lifting the 500-machine cap for clubs with more than two premises to 700, but insists it will maintain the 300-machine cap for each individual premises.

The party has also promised not to change the overall cap of 24,705 machines that can operate across all Queensland clubs.

Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls described the LNP's proposal as a "commonsense plan" that would throw a lifeline to small community-owned clubs.

"Community-owned clubs are the lifeblood of regional and suburban communities. They invest in grassroots sport, support local businesses and host community events," he said.

"Without these [clubs] our state would lose the tight-knit communities that make us quintessentially Queensland.

"The policy does not increase the allowable machine allocation at each venue but would allow larger community-owned clubs to step in to stop smaller clubs being forced to close."

Asked if the government had also committed to lifting the cap on clubs with multiple premises, a spokesperson in Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath's office said a "club compact" was under consideration.

"Clubs play an important role in our communities, whether it is employing local people, promoting sport, fundraising and offering a safe place for locals and visitors to gather and socialise," the spokesperson said.

"The Queensland government has committed to a club compact, but also has to take into account the needs of the entire sector while ensuring gambling harm minimisation initiatives."

Clubs Queensland supports move

Clubs Queensland chief executive Kelly Egan said his organisation had been calling for changes to the cap at clubs with multiple premises for some time.

He said an average of 12 clubs per year had closed in the past decade.

"This proposed policy will never mitigate the whole lot, but this is designed to try and avoid that happening," Mr Egan said.

According to Mr Egan, there are two clubs in Queensland that have reached the 500-machine cap, and four clubs that have reached the cap of 300 for an individual premises.

"Fundamentally across the state, there is only a finite number of club venues that will have a requirement to go to the incremental cap of 700 gaming machines," he said.

"But what it does do is provides us with the future scope to support a club industry that on the back of pre-COVID and on the back of COVID has had some challenges in keeping community assets and community infrastructure operating."

Mr Egan pointed to Caboolture Sports Club as an example of a club with multiple sites that was unable to expand without an increase to the 500-machine cap.

"Caboolture Sports Club has a genuine opportunity to further engage and support the community across the Moreton Bay region," he said.

Gamblers lose billions

In the 2022-23 financial year, Queenslanders lost more than more than $5 billion to gambling — of which about $3.2 billion was lost through poker machines.

Alliance for Gambling Reform interim chief executive Martin Thomas said his organisation was opposed to the proposal to increase the cap on gaming machines at clubs with multiple sites.

He said his organisation was not pushing for a total prohibition on gambling, but wanted a reduction in the number of gaming machines at clubs.

"We believe that far too much money is being lost by people who can least afford it," he said.

Mr Thomas said the Alliance for Gambling Reform wanted state governments to introduce a mandatory cashless card with pre-commitments for poker machine users.

"What it means is people have to pre-set their losses before they play and once they have reached that they get locked out for a certain period of time," he said.

"You might say 'I'm happy to lose $50 a week'. Once you've lost that, you're locked out for a day or two until you're able to play again."