There is much research regarding the social ills of gambling, not only the direct harm it causes but the very real social degradation (ie increased crime, poverty, domestic violence, substance addiction) around the particular locations where gambling is concentrated. This is specifically regarding the negative impacts of casinos, and doesn’t mean that the same occurs around Bacchus’ favourite pokie joint.
It would be more difficult to measure the smaller scale harm caused by a smaller scale gambling establishment, but I can’t see why if large gambling houses cause widespread large scale social problems, why smaller scale gambling would not cause equivalent scale problems.
I hate EGM’s with a passion. They are placed in certain demographics to maximise the losses of the players. They are designed by experts in people’s behaviour and mathematical elite so that regular players have no chance to win. If The EFC are long term players in this evil offering then they should be leaders and:
slow down the machines
minimise the maximum betting amount per spin
Put clocks on all the walls to show people the time
Maximise natural light in the gaming area
Turn off the machines every 4 hours for a 15 minute break (at least)
Only run the machines for a maximum of 14 hours per day
Are the Bombers willing and ready to social leaders in the EGM area?
You’re saying it’s more destructive - and devious - than the other things listed, yeah?
You’re not saying it’s more addictive?
Because as somebody who has been addicted to both, I’d say cigarettes are about 100,000, to 200,000 times more addictive than pokies. In fact, I personally had far more trouble giving up betting on horses than I did the pokies.
Yeah definitely talking about destructiveness. I’m a smoker too so agree definitely on its addictive power vs anything else I’ve dealt with. We all know smoking will kill you in your 60’s, but I’ve never seen anyone lose their house over smoking or commit sucide. And I’ve seen the absolute worst in self loathing by people who want to quit smoking.
I don’t really know the comparative addiction of smoking vs pokies, but I guess for a small % of people it is just as addictive. And given that is designed purely around being addictive it makes me uncomfortable. Compared to horse racing which is designed to see which horse is fastest. Humans have designed pokies for only one objective and if your one of the unlucky ones it takes hold in it will harm your life way more than any other addiction.
I’m pretty libertarian, I support decriminalisation of drugs for example and can’t think of anything else I wished banned. But this industry causes so much damage, for so little benefit.
Found a community statement for which I believe is the windy hill venue only for the year ended June 2012. R.S.L. Anzac donation $15000. Philanthropic or Benevolent payments $135,797 (includes Long Walk Foundation$64,494). Affiliated Clubs including Bendigo Bombers $323,245 Maintenance of football oval and lawn bowling facilities $265,187.
I honestly think its much ado about nothing. Some people are addicted to poker machines, to blackjack, to betting on the horses, to ice to heroin, to alcohol to methylated spirits.
Banning things doesnt make them go away. There is clear global evidence of that. When alcohol is illegal they had illegal stills. Drugs are illegal they have illegal production facilites. When gambling was illgeal they had illegal casinos.
The only people that make money out of banning anything are the people who are prepared to do everything illegally, and the police and government officials who get paid off.
I’d rather have everything legalised, controlled and more importantly, taxed.
I’d also question where the push for banning pokies is coming from. I doubt that its the people who think they are running this show. There is a lot of money for someone to fill the gap for all those people who want to spend that money, when and if pokies are banned.
Always follow the money.
I used to think that if we sold them we are just deferring the blame without addressing the issue, but then realised that organisations with the status such as a big football club have the responsibility to take the lead on public issues because we have the ability to cause real change, just like when Sheeds wanted to increase public knowledge about the sacrifices of war through Anzac Day, or sitting with Longy to talk about racial vilification.
Essendon supported marriage equality, so you’d think the same cool heads who agreed to do that would also know that pokies are bad.
The problem is who do you sell them to? Collingwood sold to the racing club, but who else would want to get into pokies? Maybe Woolworths, but they don’t make it well known that they own pokies and this would be a high profile sale. I hope we haven’t left our run too late.
Agree SW. Personally I don’t like them and refuse to put my money in a machine designed to beat you. As perce says above, that’s a mugs game. I work too hard at two jobs to support my family to waste it pouring it into a machine but if others want to play the machines, as pointed out, they’re legal and it’s a free country. I do have some sympathy for problem gamblers though, I can’t imagine how it’d feel needing to do something that’s often so damaging because you cannot control the urge. I think that’d be horrible, not only for that person but the families involved.
I don’t necessarily like that we’re so reliant on the revenue from the machines but it’s a reality of where we’re currently at. I think we will do away with the pokie revenue at some point but it certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to be in the next few years with the Hangar upgrade among other projects that require substantial funding.
I do feel that the AFL is having a bit each way when it comes to gambling. They act the moral custodians for the footy society on some issues they needn’t be involved in yet plaster sports betting ads across the LED advertising fencing at venues, show odds on matches pre game & live odds at half time. They have partnerships with sports betting companies as listed on their website yet seem to be encouraging clubs to move away from pokie revenue. I can’t help but feel that’s hypocritical but that’s the AFL.
Some of you will be happy to know that Melton Council are revisiting the EFC lease of the Melton Club. It was approved at the last Council meeting, but the one Councillor who was absent have moved to have the decision rescinded at the next Meeting. He needs a seconder, which he will probably get, and then they will debate it and vote again.