Flavell's Bill is badly flawed says Community Gaming Association

The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill will do virtually nothing to reduce harm from gambling at a huge cost to the taxpayer and the community the Chairman of the Community Gaming Association, John Burke said today.

“In fact the Bill almost completely eliminates the Government’s tax take from pokie gambling – which means $300 million less for hospitals and schools and other important government expenditure.

“On top of that the Bill wants to put decisions about which community is going to get community money into the hands of local body politicians.  If ever there was a recipe for disaster it lies in the inevitable pork barrel politics which will come out of such an arrangement.  Cabinet rejected that approach in 2003 because it was too dangerous and there’s no reason to suppose things have changed.

“But worst of all the Bill actually does nothing practical to stop people becoming addicted to gambling or gambling in the most unsafe environment, on the internet in their own homes.

"Current gambling venues provide a safe and supervised place for gamblers to enjoy their past-time.
"The greatest risk in terms of increased gambling addiction comes from on-line gambling.  There are no controls in place to stop overseas gambling outlets reaching into New Zealand homes or plans to provide an alternative which will at least generate money for New Zealand communities.

“That is what Mr Flavell and the Problem Gambling Foundation should be focusing on.”