Politicians in The Australian Capital Territory, which includes Canberra, are offering restaurants and clubs the opportunity to surrender poker machines in exchange for $15,000 per ‘authorisation’ as long as the proceeds go towards retaining and supporting staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposal is currently capped at 250 machines.

The ACT Government, led by Andrew Barr, said: “The government will provide further support to community clubs and Casino Canberra, to enable them to keep staff employed as they adjust to the physical distancing measures. Measures include providing gaming machine licensees with the opportunity to access a payment of $15,000 per authorisation if they voluntarily surrender gaming machine authorisations.”