Let’s vote pokies out of existence
I'm sick and tired of reading about the abuse of funds from pokie machines. Why is it that those responsible for distributing the money are so often exposed for bending the rules, abusing their trust or outright theft?
Just a couple of weeks ago the Internal Affairs Department said it was investigating large sums going to the horse-racing industry in an arrangement between big pokie trusts and clubs which, if confirmed, has seen millions leached from the poorest New Zealanders and into the coffers of an industry run for the well off.
The investigation involved the Lion, Perry and Infinity foundations granting pokie funds to the Thames Harness Racing Club and the Manukau, Kumeu and Franklin Trotting Clubs.
The department said the four clubs received over $5.4 million between 2006 and 2008 and that these grants were "inconsistent with sections of the Gambling Act".
Then over the weekend the Sunday Star Times reported another alleged scam whereby more millions have found their way to the promotion of professional sport via the Waitakere United soccer club. Pokie funds are supposed to be strictly for amateur sport but allegations have been made that the club has used at least some of the $2.3 million they have received since 2005 to recruit and support professional players.
One of the feeder clubs to Waitakere United is Ranui-Swanson, whose president, Greg Smith, says they pay $1000 in affiliation fees each year but don't see anything for it. He says they don't get a bean of the pokie money. He believes the money should be spent on helping underprivileged children participate in sport rather than effectively buying players to bolster the club's reputation and who could challenge that?
These are just the latest tales of alleged misuse of pokie funds and they follow a long, sordid decade of highly publicised rorts between trusts, venue owners and recipient organisations.
All this is on top of the enormous social damage these machines cause. More than 80% of those seeking treatment from problem gambling in New Zealand have their addictions to pokie machines in local clubs and pubs. With more than half pokie machines in the poorest one-third of New Zealand communities it's obvious who are the losers.
The gambling industry tries to downplay the problem but everyone dealing with families in low-income areas knows it's a huge problem. The government enjoys the revenue (it takes one-third of all the profits) while the pokie trusts and venues take an equal share of the rest.
Politicians self-righteously insist the pokie trust money goes back to the community through grants which have legislated criteria for their distribution. They'd have us believe there is some greater good from stripping three dollars out of a community and then putting just one dollar back.
It's long past the time to get rid of these man-made thieves. No one ever voted to have pokie machines operate in their area and yet the number of machines has ballooned as people have become addicted. In 1999 when Labour took office there were around 13,000 machines in the country. That rose to 24,000 machines till public concern caused most local authorities to impose a sinking lid policy so that the number of machines has slowly begun to drop.
Auckland City Council wants to buck the trend. They are proposing retaining their sinking lid policy but want pokie trusts to be able to relocate their machines to revamped buildings. Aucklanders are speaking loudly against the proposal but don't hold your breath for a decent response from this pokie-friendly council.
From all points of view pokies are a blight on the community. This is a case where direct democracy could have an appropriate role. I think the Government should allow local referenda during next year's local body elections and give communities the right to say NO to these machines.
Why not?
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This is worrying; not only am I in agreement with JM but I find myself agreeing with bobberesford.com. However, congatulations, Bob on manging to introduce the great banking conspiracy into the topic. I imagine if there were a blog on the state of public lavatories in Riccarton you would manage to blame the banks.
Agreed 100%. Good call again John Minto.
John, you should start a petition, gain the required number of signatures then force a national referendum.
(having just read your last blog) OH thats right....you dont believe in democracy and the will of the people UNLESS they happen to agree with you.
You are correct that the pokies are predominantly in the poorest area, when the try them in wealthier araes NO one plays them. You can work on fixing poor, but you cant fix stupid.
"From all points of view pokies are a blight on the community."
There are a few postives to what is essentially a stupid tax...
My god, I agree with John...? Have never seen the point of these machines, maybe I lack the gambling gene but I don't see the attraction in watching flashing lights while your pay is swallowed. Saddest thing is those who can least afford it tend to be the ones chucking their dollars away (same with smoking but that's another issue)...
Why Not???
I will tell you why not.
I know in your perfect world, the government would make every decision for us.
In a democracy, choice is king.
If I want to spend my money on a pokie machine that is my choice.
If I want to watch an Israeli tennis player that is my choice.
If I want a cup of coffee at a cafe that is my choice.
Choice is king my friend.
Maybe not for communists, but for any free minded person, choice is king.
Deal with it.
Direct democracy is playing a role, people are putting their money into the machines. They have freedom of choice not to do so. People need to grow up and face the consequences of their actions.
Should we ban alcohol because there are a alcoholics who's lives are ruined by it?
That said, if people are mis-using the funds, then they should be prosecuted.
Ben #2, you have given me a laugh for my day.
I usually tend to avoid the comments of Bob however (as I work in the Illuminati controlled finance sector and my employers would take great concern if I were to reveal the truth about the one world global economic system blah blah blah)
And I actually think John has made a good post. Huzzah!
I think pokies are really stupid. Even when some goes towards charities this is so little positive compared to the many negatives.
But are there really that many addicts, I mean real ones? The whole victim culture encourages people to not take responsibility for their actions and their weaknesses but rather blame their boss, childhood beatings or pokies. The bar used to claim sickness and victim status has been lowered through the years.
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Agreed......Pokies should go. So should casinos. Both cause terrible social damage. The touted excuse that casinos ( encouraged by the labour Gov ) breed tourism is garbage. We have enough natural attractions. Casinos only bring in tourists with gambling problems. Pokies cater for and trap people who socially don't fit in a Casino. I've seen the horrific sight of a little old lady sitting at a pokie in a pub, with glazed eyes and probably nothing much else going in her life, gambling her pension away, like a metronome. At a certain point any Government should decide whether it represents society's real interests....or the blind pursuit of cash via profits. This one, sponsored by the banks, seems firmly committed to the latter. Problem gambling - and it becomes a problem too fast with unpayable debt and addiction - is one of the black holes in society. But so is the private financial system running on unpayable debt via Compounding Interest. That black hole can only be fixed by low-interest public banking and proper Gov control of the money supply. Which is the basis for fixing other problems....and unless fixed there is no long term hope - the society will implode.