A problem gambler who called on the ACT government to close a loophole which enabled her to put hundreds of thousands of dollars through the pokies said a Liberal MLA's attempt to compare his addiction to hers is "disingenuous".
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The ACT Opposition's gaming and racing spokesman Mark Parton revealed on Sunday he once had a problem with gambling.
He said his wake-up call came after he lost $600 on the horses, drove 50 kilometres to get a $1000 cash loan and bet the whole amount at the casino.
But Professor Laurie Brown said Mr Parton's comments were "disingenuous to people who are suffering from serious gambling addiction with modern-day poker machines".
Professor Brown fed $167,766 into poker machines at the Belconnen Raiders Club after making 353 cash withdrawals through eftpos over 130 nights.
She said she would withdraw $480 on average each time and would return to the eftpos machine at least four times a night.
"I am sorry Mr Parton had some troubles in his youth with horses, I really am," Professor Brown said.
"While Mr Parton's experience serves a valuable warning about the perils of gambling in general, it is a long way from the experience of people who become addicted to today's high-tech poker machines.
"These machines are nothing but addiction devices. As Liberal spokesperson on gaming, Mr Parton has access to all the world-leading research on gambling addiction he needs to help him understand the difference."
Mr Parton is a vocal opponent of a government proposal to stop people withdrawing cash through eftpos machines in ACT clubs.
Last week he filmed himself walking from club entrances to the nearest ATM to try to prove the ban would be pointless.
However Professor Brown described his argument as "nonsensical and dangerous".
"When I had to leave Raiders Belconnen to access cash from a local ATM, it provided me with a much needed break even when the ATM was only a few minutes away," she said.
"On many occasions this interruption was enough for me go home and not return to the club, particularly late at night and in the early hours of the morning when I didn't feel safe getting money out of the ATM."
Professor Brown said she was "living proof" clubs did not intervene when people used eftpos machines to get around the $250 limits on ATMs.
Mr Parton said he sympathised with Professor Brown's situation "but it must be remembered that plenty of people gamble on poker machines and do so sensibly".
"What I conveyed in my piece over the weekend was that I recognised I had a problem early on and I managed to deal with it," Mr Parton said.
"I also hope that through the publication of the piece that it may have reached some problem gamblers and that it conveyed the message that there is help out there and people should be commended for seeking it."
If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, phone the ACT Gambling Counselling and Support Service on 1800 858 858 or visit Gambling Help Online.
