Goverment caps new poker machine numbers

The Queensland Government has announced a permanent cap on the number of new poker machines allowed in the state's clubs.

There are already almost 45,000 poker machines in clubs and pubs across Queensland.

In April, the Government introduced a two-year moratorium on new poker machine allocations in clubs, but this has now been extended to a permanent cap bringing it into line with the long-held moratorium in pubs.

The decision is expected to cost the Government about $20 million a year in lost revenue.

Premier Anna Bligh says the decision to introduce a permanent cap has not been taken lightly.

But she says the Government is determined to get tough on gambling and do what is in the public interest.

The Opposition says the Government's promise to limit poker machine numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has welcomed the idea of the cap and supports Salvation Army calls to reduce the number of poker machines.

But he says he does not expect the cap will last as the Government has flip-flopped on gaming machine policy before.

He says in 2005 the Government added an extra 1,200 licences despite having limits in place.