Charity Gaming Funds Reach Nearly $300 Million

The licensed fund raising organizations which use gaming machines to generate money for community grants distributed nearly $300 million dollars to deserving community groups last year the Chairman of the Charity Gaming Association, Paul East, said today.

Our members are very conscious of their responsibility under the Gambling Act 2003 to maximize the benefit they generate for the community at the least possible cost; and with the minimum of harm from problem gambling.

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, in communities from the Far North to the Deep South, directly benefited from donations made possible by having gaming machines in venues in their community.

They got new computers in schools, new community event centres and other buildings, new sports facilities, the ability for under-privileged children to participate in activities they couldnt otherwise afford.

Communities also benefited economically from the $144 million dollars which went back in payments for wages and other hosting costs and the $300 million which went back in taxes and fees to the Government.

In addition the CGAs members contributed more than $10 million in the past year to fund the treatment of people with gambling addiction and for research into problem gambling in New Zealand.

But none of this activity is ever going to completely stop people who fail to exercise personal responsibility for their families and their gambling. We can erect as many fences as we like at the top of the cliff but, unfortunately, there are always going to be some people who make a personal decision to jump over it.

We do everything we can to make gambling as safe and responsible as it can be after that its up to the individual to gamble within their personal limits.

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