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 Club manager warns: licence will cost jobs 

Club manager warns: licence will cost jobs

14 Apr, 2011 01:28 PM
The club and hotel industry will officially launch its campaign against mandatory pre-commitment.

This $3-billion technology requires any person who plays a poker machine to register for a licence to gamble.

More than five-million Australians have a flutter on the pokies at least once a year.

Lightning Ridge Bowling Club secretary manager Ray Brown said the changes would affect the “little clubs”.

“Thousands of jobs will be lost,” he said.

“People are overwhelmingly responsible punters who are being told they’ll need to register for a card even if they want to bet just a few dollars.

“To make these people feel like addicts simply because they enjoy playing the pokies is un-Australian.

“Money that is donated to various sporting bodies in town will be lost, as well as the other charities in Lightning Ridge.

“The little clubs will fold as they can not exist without the money from the club.

“Thousands of dollars to sport and various clubs throughout NSW will suffer.

“The licence is brought in to limit the amount of money a person can gamble.

“Eventually it will also limit the money that can be withdrawn from ATM in clubs and pubs also.”

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Aren't NSW punters - even the responsible ones - already required to register for a card at their local club or to sign in each time they visit the club? Do these people feel like addicts? No? Aren't all people who wish to gamble online also required to give their details and apply for "membership"? Does doing this make people feel like addicts? No?Then what is the problem? Obviously it's not about the card or the requirement that people give their details. Obviously it's about profits and the fact that Mark Dickerson's research found that over 50% of poker machines users spend more than they plan to on a regular basis. While most people who overspend do not qualify for the label Problem Gambler, the industry is obviously terrified that no one will overspend and their profits will drop dramatically as a result. As a former pokie addict, I can say that I would not have gotten caught up in the overspend, feel guilty, chase losses cycle had I been unable to continue gambling any night that my initial nightly spend had been reached.
Posted by Sue Pinkerton, 14/04/2011 7:13:53 PM, on Lightning Ridge News

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