Australia Online Gambling News: Gaming Minister Asleep at the Wheel? - Gambling911 - 5th March 2009

A series of photographs seem to show Australia's Gaming and Racing Minister, Kevin Greene, taking a nap during a Parliament question period.

His press secretary claimed that Greene suffers from "droopy eye syndrome".

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said the latest incident was "unforgivable" given how few days NSW parliament sits.

"It just sums up all that's wrong with this state Labor government - asleep at the house or asleep at the wheel - what the public know is they're not focusing on the problems affecting the people across this state," he told reporters.

In addition to his droopy eyelids, Mr Greene must have poor neck muscles, Mr O'Farrell said.

"Clearly the head was to the side, the eyes were closed. Most reasonable people would think that he was fast asleep."

Gambling911.com asked our Media Man Down Under, Greg Tingle, for his opinion on the matter:

"If he is asleep that would explain a lot about the Australian government actions regarding the gaming and racing industry!" Tingle suggested. "I'm curious to know if Kevin Green drinks the same coffee or gets the same pills that Stephen Conroy (Communications Minister) might."

Conroy has come under fire for trying to censor the Internet in Australia.

.........Australia Students Up In Arms Over Gambling Stall: The National Union of Students (NUS) says it is outraged a gambling agency has been allowed to run a stall during Orientation Week at the University of New South Wales.

New South Wales Lotteries have been handing out scratchie key-rings, lotto instructions and stickers as part of a sponsorship deal with the UNSW's students' organisation.

NUS president, David Barrow, says it sends the wrong message to students.

"As you walk into the University, you see the stall first before you get your textbooks," he said.

"So, I mean, it's a bit of an issue if you're being asked to enter a raffle to win a scratchie before you can even get your textbooks."

......Big Brother Takes Swipe At Gamblers: The Independent Gambling Authority is holding an inquiry into ways of keeping problem gamblers out of casinos and will report to the South Australian Government in October.

Sue Pinkerton from the group Duty of Care says it would not cost much to set up a swipe card system at the Adelaide casino.

"If people had to swipe a card to get in, if the card contained a photo ID, it's going to cost them maybe $6,000 because they've got two entrances and they would be able to detect barred gamblers quite quickly," she said.

"We've had women who've dressed as men, men who've dressed as women, women and men who've worn wigs, coloured contact lenses to get into a venue."

Casino spokesman Andrew Lamb says the cost would be far greater than $6,000..

"It's been tried in one casino, at that casino revenue dropped by 30 per cent," he said.

"If our revenue dropped by 30 per cent we'd close down and send 1,100 people home without jobs."

The Australian Hotels Association says installing security cards to keep out problem gamblers would be a gross overkill.

Greg Tingle's comment: "Big Bother wants to know what brand of toilet paper we use judging by the following developments." (Credit: Gambling911)

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Greg Tingle

Media Man Australia