Pubs and clubs will receive a larger slice of pokies revenue under a change in the dividend carve-up, under the Liberals' gaming policy the Government plans to take to this year's Tasmanian election.

Key points: Twenty-year licences for pubs, clubs to operate their own electronic gaming machines (EGMs)

Twenty-year licences for pubs, clubs to operate their own electronic gaming machines (EGMs) Network licence to monitor machines in pubs, clubs to be put to tender

Network licence to monitor machines in pubs, clubs to be put to tender Government will receive 48 per cent of revenue, pubs and clubs 50 per cent, monitoring network 2 per cent

Government will receive 48 per cent of revenue, pubs and clubs 50 per cent, monitoring network 2 per cent Annual licence fees and tax rates still to be set

Annual licence fees and tax rates still to be set All gaming staff must be trained and licensed

All gaming staff must be trained and licensed Ban on credit card use and note acceptors on EGMs in pubs and clubs

Ban on credit card use and note acceptors on EGMs in pubs and clubs Compulsory player information displays on EGMs

Compulsory player information displays on EGMs Limitations on advertising, inducements and player loyalty programs

Limitations on advertising, inducements and player loyalty programs Proscribed limits on food and alcohol service at EGMs

Other measures, which Treasurer Peter Gutwein said would allow venues to be "in control of their own destiny", include a doubling of funds for "harm minimisation and community projects" and a contract to monitor machines in pubs and clubs across the state put to tender.

Currently, venues receive a third of pokies revenue, with the Government and Federal Group's Network Gaming also taking a third each.

Under the new Liberals' policy, venues will take no less than 50 per cent, the Government 48 per cent, and a monitoring network - set to go out to tender from 2023 - to receive 2 per cent.

In announcing the policy, Premier Will Hodgman said "unlike Labor, we believe that Tasmanians should be able to choose how to spend their money, not be dictated to by the Government".

"We won't shut down pubs or clubs by ripping out all of their machines, and we don't believe we should be spending taxpayers' money to buy out jobs and potentially close down pubs and clubs."

The tourism and hospitality sector is a major employer in Tasmania, with around 37,000 people directly and indirectly employed," the Government said in a statement.

"The gaming industry estimates that around 5,000 jobs are at risk if electronic gaming machines are removed from pubs and clubs."

The Liberals' policy contrasts with that of Labor, released in December last year to applause from anti-gambling groups and welfare agencies, but scorn from Federal Group, Tasmania's casino operator and others in the business and hospitality sector.

The "only way to get rid of poker machines from pubs and clubs is to remove Will Hodgman," Rebecca White said. ( ABC News: Emily Street )

Premier a 'coward', afraid of 'pro-pokies lobby': White

Labor leader Rebecca White said Mr Hodgman had "rolled over" to the pro-pokies lobby group.

"Today, Premier Will Hodgman has shown he's nothing more than a coward, can't stand up to the pro-pokies lobby group," she said.

"What he's proposing to do is burden the Tasmanian community with poker machines until 2043.

"I will be 60 years old before we can have this debate again about removing poker machines from our pubs and clubs if we do not take the chance right now to do what's right.

"Tasmanians now have a very clear choice: the only way to get rid of poker machines from pubs and clubs is to remove Will Hodgman," Ms White said.

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The operator of Tasmania's two casinos, Federal Group, issued a statement saying it had "some concerns that the policy will mean a further reduction in the share of gaming revenue received and does not provide the certainty or clarity beyond 2023 sought by the company".

"However, we also acknowledge that the policy achieves a balance between freedom of choice, employment and economic activity, and harm minimisation."

Federal said it had "always recognised" its exclusive gaming licence and direct licensing of gaming in hotels and clubs "would change from 2023".

Federal executive general manager Daniel Hanna said the removal of Federal Group's exclusive licences would "result in our company receiving significantly less revenue from gaming".

"However, the company is determined to remain a significant player in the casino and gaming industry — and wider Tasmanian economy — beyond 2023."

'A deep betrayal of the community'

In a statement, Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie said the Tasmanian Liberal Party "should be ashamed of itself".

"Their decision to leave poker machines in pubs and clubs, and to not implement any effective harm minimisation measures, is a deep betrayal of the community.

"It's a fact that poker machines increase crime, domestic violence, suicide and childhood poverty.

"It's a fact that the introduction of poker machines cost the hospitality industry many jobs.

"It's a fact that poker machine gambling addicts are a unique demographic mostly unlikely to absorb themselves in other forms of gambling.

"And it's clearly also a fact that the Tasmanian Liberal Party is completely and utterly beholden to the vultures in the poker machine industry."

The Greens' gambling spokesperson, Andrea Dawkins, said the Liberals had "demonstrated just how deep in industry's pocket, and out of touch with the community, they are when it comes to the poker machines in the state".

"Their policy will entrench the harm caused, and ignite a competitive marketplace for addiction."

EGMs are 'grandma-raping machines', MONA boss says

The Government's unveiling of its policy ahead of the March state election came as the founder of Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) David Walsh weighed into the pokies debate, describing the devices as "grandma-raping machines".

David Walsh built his fortune on gambling but is vehemently opposed to poker machines. ( ABC News )

Mr Walsh, who is credited with transforming Tasmania's tourism economy, has previously spoken out about poker machines and the gambling monopoly held by the Federal Group.

On ABC Hobart today he reiterated his vehement opposition to electronic gaming machines.

"It's no secret that I think pokies are essentially grandma-raping machines that don't service a need in the community and they're a very inefficient way of raising revenue and they're a very inefficient way of distributing revenue and creating jobs," he said.

"I have a history of spending time in gambling enterprises and the people I see that are in the most trouble and perhaps the most despair are nearly always people who play poker machines."

Last year Mr Walsh, who made his fortune gambling, revealed support for an anti-pokies community group in Tasmania, Rein in the Pokies, but did disclose how much he had donated.

In July, Mr Walsh revealed expansion plans for MONA including a tourist-only poker machine-free casino targeted at high rollers but he said that would be at least six years away.

Government has their 'finger on the pulse'

The head of the Love Your Local campaign, Michael Best, said the Government had "listened to the community" and the announcement was "further proof the Government has their finger on the pulse".

Under Labor, Tasmania would become "a nanny state, where nobody is allowed to do anything," the Love Your Local group claimed. ( ABC News: Giulio Saggin )

"Just as importantly, the Government has recognised that owners and operators are best placed to manage responsible gambling in their local community," he said.

"Nobody wants to see people in their community struggle with any form of addiction and the announcement today recognised that local pubs and clubs can be trusted to look after their own.

"That is why Tasmania has one of the lowest rates of problem gambling in Australia at 0.5 per cent."

Mr Best said the announcement would come as a relief to the some 5,100 jobs that have been put at risk as a result of the decision by Labor to join with the Greens to remove gaming machines from pubs and clubs across the state.

"It is clear that Tasmanians now have a clear choice, they can support local jobs and local businesses or they can allow us to become a nanny state, where nobody is allowed to do anything," he said.

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