June 31, 2007

Rugby Union may have scored own goal

Sporting bodies are taking a huge risk when they invest in pubs that are dependant on pokie machine earnings, says Problem Gambling Foundation CEO John Stansfield.

Mr Stansfield was commenting on the decision of the Canterbury Rugby Union to buy two pubs which are described as 'good little earners," largely due to their pokie machines.

"We think that becoming a venue owner could disqualify the Union from receiving any pokie funding at all," he said.

Mr Stansfield says the days when pokie venue operators could guarantee that most of the pokie profits were returned to them through the back door had gone.

"Canterbury Rugby Union appears to have learnt nothing from rugby league which has done huge damage to its reputation through its involvement in a series of pokie related scandals."

"The Trusts are coming under increasing pressure to be more transparent in their operations. The wild west days are coming to an end."

"It is quite clear that venue owners should not receive funding."

He says that Canterbury rugby already receives a considerable amount of pokie funding and questions why it would need to apply for grants if it has enough money to buy pubs.

"Maybe we should be asking whether there is an accounting sleight of hand taking place here and whether the pubs are effectively being bought with pokie grants."

Mr Stansfield says the people of Marlborough are likely to lose community funding as a result of the Union purchase.

"There is an identifiable pattern of pokie money flowing away from local communities to large central sporting bodies. We can expect to see funding move south in this particular situation."

Mr Stansfield is appalled at the bad example major sports are setting by seeking pokie money. He believes that the day gambling funding is treated like tobacco sponsorship is not far away.

"Sporting bodies took a long time to realise that accepting sponsorship from the tobacco industry was not acceptable to the wider community. They will eventually realise that gambling profits are toxic too," he said.

"These organisations aspire to being role models but they are saying it is ok to cause misery in the community to fund your sporting activities."

"What sort of a message is that to send our young people?"

"The pokies are a failed experiment in community funding that result in poverty, crime, family breakdowns and suicides."

"Sports can hardly describe themselves as healthy pastimes when they are prepared to buy into an industry that deliberately fosters community harm."

ENDS

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