ACT Northland-based MP Dr Muriel Newman is urging Northlanders to write submissions to the Government Administration Committee about the Responsible Gambling Bill, which had its first reading in Parliament last night. The bill seeks to unilaterally regulate the gaming industry.

"No pokie machine will be safe from the heavy hand of Government regulation.

"They plan to use electronic surveillance and gaming inspectors to snoop around our local pubs - checking that the pub owners are not ripping the system off.

"I say it's an outrage.

"The Government, through this Bill, is treating local pub and club owners who run pokie machines as criminals.

"The people who play the machines are being treated like addicts.

"The Bill ensures that proceeds, rather than being given back to local causes - such as Plunket, ambulance and fire services, sports activities, schools and kindergartens - are instead syphoned off to Government.

"I would urge anyone who is involved in the gaming industry - either as an operator, a player, or a beneficiary - to get a copy of the Bill and see for themselves the threat to freedom, choice and personal responsibility being posed by this legislation," Dr Newman said.

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