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The Tasmanian anti-pokies movement has been bolstered by the backing of MONA's David Walsh, with a campaigner warning if political parties ignore public sentiment on the issue "perhaps the parliamentary system needs to be disrupted".
The impending expiry of Federal Group's monopoly deed over poker machines in the state has sparked debate about the issue ahead of the 2018 state poll.
Mr Walsh, who bankrolled his Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) with the proceeds from gambling, has supported the anti-poker machine group Rein in the Pokies, which has partnered with interstate opponents to campaign against the machines, flagging the possibility of backing independents or running candidates.
"David is a very wealthy man, as we all know, and he has supported us adequately," Pat Caplice from Rein In The Pokies said.
"It costs money to take out full-page ads in papers, it costs money to put ads onto TV.
"The logistics of that has been principally by me, the financial support has of course come from outside, but I'd reiterate again that it hasn't only been from one person, it's been from a range of people."
Mr Walsh would not say how much he has contributed to the anti-pokies cause, but he has ruled out donating to political parties.
A vehement opponent to gaming machines, Mr Walsh told ABC's 7.30 in 2015 "pokies work in a different way to other gambling".
Mr Walsh said companies "design poker machines in a way that maximises the psychological reinforcement".
"It's not about the thrill of winning, its about being in the zone, having the world closed out to you," he said at the time.
That year, Mr Walsh lashed out at the Farrells, the family who own Federal Group, for attempting to use him to extend its poker machine monopoly indefinitely.
In 2017, MONA unveiled plans for expansion of it Berriedale complex to include a luxury hotel and high-rollers casino that would be off-limits to Tasmanians and poker machine free.
'Disruption' to Parliament an option
Mr Caplice said Mr Walsh had "brought a new paradigm to Tasmania" and the major parties "should be, if not concerned, at least be very aware of his concern".
"David's support is mostly the moral support that he's given and quite frankly my personal friendship with David has got me through a lot of doors," he said.
"It's that indirect influence that David has been most helpful with."
Mr Caplice said the Pokies Out Tasmania group may look to support anti-pokies independents or minor parties, or run candidates in the 2018 Tasmanian election, but is waiting to see what position Labor take on poker machines before planning its next move.
"If Labor comes on board and gives an anti-pokies option to the electorate, we'll continue solely as an anti-pokies group," Mr Caplice said.
"But if Labor don't come on board then it becomes a larger question than pokies, it becomes a question of democracy.
"If 80 per cent of the population want great changes to the landscape of poker machines and the next government, either Labor or Liberal, won't offer that to the electorate, then perhaps the parliamentary system would need to be disrupted," Mr Caplice said.
Community untroubled by gambling, Federal Group boss says
Federal Group managing director Greg Farrell has said research conducted by the Federal Group had revealed Tasmanians were unconcerned by gaming as a social issue.
"Things like safety, health and education will rate much higher," he told a parliamentary inquiry this year.
"I certainly don't get any sense that the majority of people adamantly want to see the removal of gaming machines.
"Gaming as an unprompted issue rates extraordinarily low, in fact for many years on an unprompted basis it does not rate at all."
Mr Farrell told the inquiry Federal Group contributed $343 million to the Tasmanian economy last financial year.
Wilkie to 'turbo-charge' issue
Long-time poker machine opponent Andrew Wilkie has printed bumper stickers and posters as part of his new Pokies are the Problem campaign.
"One of the ways I'm looking to contribute to the state election is to turbo-charge the poker machine issue," he said.
Mr Wilkie said he wants the campaign to pressure the Liberals to "change its policy" and Labor to "come up with a policy".
The Tasmanian Government is planning to reduce the number of poker machines allowed in the state, but will not remove those currently in place.
The Tasmanian Hospitality Association and the Federal Group have put forward a plan to hand ownership of the poker machines back to pubs and clubs.
Neither party have responded to the ABC's request for comment, but they have previously said the industry is "well regulated" and warned removing poker machines would have a devastating impact on businesses.
Topics: gambling, arts-and-entertainment, government-and-politics, tas
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