Australian Regulation Could Chop Poker Machine Population

The Victorian Greens have a plan that won't sit well with many poker fans: they would like to see the population of video poker machines in Victoria cut by as much as two thirds. Greg Barber, the Greens gambling spokesman, says his party would like to see machines removed from clubs all together. According to his figures the areas that are most into poker machines - sometimes four times as into - are areas with income that is far below others.If the Greens' idea goes through the number of poker machines in the state would be reduced to 100,000. The Greens are also moving to propose a ban on political contributions from gambling outfits to help de-politicize the topic.