Pro Pokie Foley Draws Criticism

Thursday 21 January, 2010 18:50

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Kevin Foley, South Australian Treasurer, defended his pro-pokie sentiments and the right to gamble as a form of entertainment, even amidst rebukes from South Australian Senator, Nick Xenophon.

Foley was filmed on a mobile phone camera singing karaoke to the Kenny Rogers classic, The Gambler in a popular Adelaide bar.

After the footage was posted on YouTube, Foley answered questions by reporters, among them his views on gambling.

Foley said that he was "pro-pokies", adding: "I have always been a liberal when it comes to supporting poker machines and gambling. Poker machines are a legal activity in this state, one that brings enjoyment to many people. There are some who clearly have trouble with their gambling addiction and there are services available to deal with them."

But Foley was attacked by the traditionally anti-gambling Senator Xenophon, who retorted in response: "Kevin Foley's spruiking for the poker barons is more embarrassing than his karaoke rendition of The Gambler."

"As almost 8 years as SA Treasurer, Kevin still doesn't get it," said Xenophon. "More than 50 percent of pokie revenues come from the addicted. This is an industry that destroys lives and causes immeasurable grief to the families of problem gamblers."

In other Xenophon related news, the Senator said that he would be participating in the fight against problem gambling, and is requesting that the federal government take drastic measures to overcome the problem.

There is currently one pokie machine for every 110 Australians, making it one of the ten countries worldwide where gambling is considered very popular.

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