The Salvation Army has via statement indicated its support for voluntary pre-commitment; technology that allows the gambler to decide whether they wish to register for a gambling card before playing a poker machine.

• The differences offered by a voluntary pre-commitment system (instead of mandatory) include:
• No requirement for the gambler to register for a card before they can play
• No requirement for an identity database of people who have registered for a gambling card
• No requirement to create a system linking all 200,000 poker machines nationally.

In its statement, the Salvation Army states:

“The Salvation Army is supportive of the introduction of voluntary pre-commitment technology on all poker machines. This will allow gamblers the opportunity to thoughtfully consider their options before commencing.

“We also support a trial of mandatory pre-commitment technology in a designated jurisdiction, as recommended by the Productivity Commission Report 2010.

“However the Salvation Army believes that, regardless of the findings of a trial, a mandatory pre-commitment system on its own will not effectively respond to the complex issues that underpin problem gambling.”

Executive Director of Clubs Australia Anthony Ball said the Prime Minister is persisting with mandatory pre-commitment only because of Andrew Wilkie’s threats to withdraw his support for the Government.

“Andrew Wilkie’s continuing bullying of the Government, and the Prime Minister’s willingness to tolerate it, is an insult to the Australian community.

“Common sense, and now the Salvation Army, says you don’t help a problem gambler by giving them a gambling card. To invoke a law to control the urge of a compulsive gambler is nonsense.

“The Salvation Army’s rejection of mandatory pre-commitment is telling as they know better than most what helps a problem gambler. The Gillard Government needs to start listening to the Salvos and stop listening to Andrew Wilkie.

“A voluntary pre-commitment scheme, as supported by the Salvation Army, can be an effective tool for helping social gamblers stick to their limits.

“Trials in both South Australia and Queensland have indicated that gamblers overwhelming support voluntary pre-commitment. More importantly, more than three quarters of the trial participants did not support the technology being made mandatory as demanded by Andrew Wilkie and for the moment at least, the Federal Government,” Anthony Ball said.

The President of ClubsAustralia today said the Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie’s $3 billion poker machine reforms have been designed to deter recreational gamblers and would not stop problem gamblers from betting.

Addressing the National Press Club, itself a venue that will be subject to Wilkie’s mandatory pre-commitment technology, Peter Newell said the anti-gambling lobby was well aware that responsible gamblers will refuse to register for a license to gamble.

“The Member for Denison is on the record as saying he’d like to see poker machines disappear altogether.

“But he admits that his “restrictions” – his word – are a good step along the way to this ultimate extremist and prohibitionist goal,” he said.

Peter Newell accused Wilkie and his followers of ignoring the advice of some of Australia’s leading gambling experts and welfare groups who have concluded that mandatory pre-commitment will not help problem gamblers stop betting.

“The Australian Government has seen plenty of evidence only in the last couple of months that this is a flawed proposal as far as helping problem gamblers is concerned.

“Australia’s leading academic on problem gambling, Professor Alex Blaszczynski, advised a Parliamentary Committee chaired by the Member for Denison himself that pre-commitment is unlikely to have a significant impact on the majority of problem gamblers, and may even exacerbate problem gambling.

“Common sense tells you he’s right, because problem gamblers are unlikely to set affordable limits and are likely to set high limits or none at all.”

“And with regard to the absence of cost-benefit analysis, isn’t this an amazing way to make public policy on the run – announce a wide-ranging measure impacting on millions of people, and only after that perhaps look to see what it might cost,” Peter Newell said.

Key facts:

·         Mandatory pre-commitment has never been trialled in Australia

·         There are 5,700 clubs and pubs across Australia and employing 268,000 people directly

·         There are 10.5 million club memberships nationally

·         5 million people play a poker machine each year

·         There are 95,000 problem gamblers in Australia (2% of poker machine players)

·         The rate of problem gambling has fallen in every state over the past decade. In NSW, QLD and VIC, the rate has fallen by an average of 44%

·         Andrew Wilkie has admitted gaming revenue will fall by up to 40% or $4.8b annually

·         State and Territory governments will lose over $1 billion in gaming tax annually as a result of mandatory pre-commitment technology

·         The Productivity Commission found that poker machines make a net positive social contribution of between $768 million and $5.5 billion a year.

Media: Jeremy Bath 0419 267 789 Level 8, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9268 3000 Fax: (02) 9261 2506

Media Release PDF format

There are approximately 1,000 community clubs in Queensland, ranging from a one-room clubhouse to multi-level facility. The smallest community club has around 40 members and the largest club has over 60,000 members, with the average being around 3,700 members.

Community clubs are not-for-profit, member-driven and community-orientated associations. They provide avenues for people to come together to pursue and promote common interests in sport and other recreational activities.

Community clubs support a wide range of causes and groups including veterans, amateur sport and charitable organisations. They play an important role in encouraging ordinary Australians to remain active, thus enabling them to be socially connected.

The Social and Economic Profile of Community Clubs in Queensland (SEIS) provides a comprehensive snapshot of community contributions made by community clubs. The report estimates that on average each community club provides direct community benefit of over $310,000 per annum. The full report is available at www.loveyourclub.com.au and a factsheet is attached for your information.

Gaming Machines

Gaming machines were introduced in community clubs in Queensland in 1992, when most community clubs were struggling financially. The Goss Government allowed the introduction of gaming machines to assist them to trade out of their financial difficulties.

The rationale for this decision was that as not-for-profit, member-driven and community-orientated associations, community clubs are ideally placed to reinvest any net surplus, including that from machine gaming, in the provision of better facilities and services for their members and local communities.

Revenue from machine gaming is critical to the strategic long-term financial viability of community clubs because membership fees are not sufficient to support the extensive facilities and services that community clubs offer for the benefit of their members.

Reform Deal

Clubs Queensland believes that the deal Prime Minister Julia Gillard made with the Independent Member for Denison in Tasmania, Andrew Wilkie, not only breaks a commitment of the Government to develop policy through consultation, but will not have the desired outcome of further curbing problem gambling.

Pre-Commitment Scheme

• This measure will not assist problem gambling because it does not specifically target problem gamblers. Rather, it captures everyone who wants to participate in gaming. The best way to address problem gambling is through exclusions rather than allowing problem gamblers to continue playing gaming machines using a pre-commitment system.

• Mandatory pre-commitment effectively means all players need to be licensed to gamble. This will discourage many recreational players.

• Queensland is already trialling a voluntary card-based pre-commitment system. It is one of a number of harm minimisation measures supported by our community clubs. Feedback shows that in order to be effective the scheme needs to remain voluntary.

• A mandatory scheme will impose a significant cost impost on venues. The cost is estimated around $3,000 to retrofit each machine or $25,000 for new machines (excluding ongoing maintenance costs). Experience in other countries where pre-commitment was made mandatory shows a decline in venue revenue by up to 30%.

$250 Daily Withdrawal Limit

• This measure will not help problem gamblers because they can source money from a range of sources.

• It will negatively impact all visitors to clubs, not just gamblers.

• In regional areas, the only ATMs available are in community clubs.

• Not everyone who withdraws money from an ATM in a club uses it for gambling.

• Many club patrons use ATMs at the club because it is considered safer and more convenient than using to a street ATM.

• Club employees often use the club ATM to withdraw their pay before leaving the club premises.

These reforms are detrimental to community clubs as they adversely affect recreational gambling. The 2008-09 Queensland Household Gambling Survey, conducted by the Queensland Government puts the problem gambling rate at 0.37 percent of Queensland adults. This means that 99.63 percent of Queensland adults gamble responsibly.

These reforms will also further weaken the financial viability of clubs, and may result in job losses, and a substantial decrease in monies available for community facilities and support.

The real losers of the proposed gaming machine reforms will be the hundreds of thousands of club members who gamble responsibly, and the local communities who will miss out on community support because of this revenue ‘hit’.

Industry Position

Clubs Queensland calls for the development of a system of pre-commitment that is designed in consultation with stakeholders, is voluntary for players and is cost-effective.

We do not support the $250 daily withdrawal limit.

Summary

The above measures:

• are only attractive at a superficial level; they do not address problem gambling directly.

• impose significant burden on recreational gamblers who do not have a gambling problem.

• require a huge financial commitment – money which community clubs do not have or cannot afford.

• will further weaken the strategic financial viability of a proud industry that operates for the collective benefit of community.

More Information

Doug Flockhart

Chief Executive Officer

Clubs Queensland

t: 07 3252 0770

e: doug@clubsqld.com.au

Pioneering Pathway

Queensland has one of the most innovative and effective responsible gambling and harm minimisation frameworks in Australia. The outcome has been that Queensland has the lowest problem gambling rate in the nation.

The problem gambling rate now stands at 0.37% of the adult population (which is a gradual decline from 2001 when it was 0.83% of the adult population).

The underlying rationale for our success is the concerted efforts by all stakeholders to work together to develop harm minimisation strategies that are evidence-based, cost-effective and practical to implement.

Responsible gambling is everyone’s business in Queensland and this includes the customers too who are encouraged to think about their gambling habits and seek advice if they are at risk or have a gambling problem.

Key Elements

Five key strategies underpin Queensland approach to responsible gambling and harm minimisation:

1. Stakeholder Consultation and Partnerships

The Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee (RGAC) is the cornerstone of Queensland’s responsible gambling framework.

The RGAC is a tripartite forum of Government, Industry and Community representatives who come together to develop responsible approaches to gambling, discuss issues of concern in a mutually cooperative environment, and provide strategic policy input to the Government on harm minimisation.

RGAC has developed the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice. The Code of Practice is a mix of legislative measures and best practices. By implementing the Code of Practice, gambling providers can offer a safe and supportive environment to their customers (see below).

The ‘local version’ of the RGAC is the RGNet, which brings together representatives from a particular area to share their experience and resources in promoting responsible gambling. RGNets operate throughout Queensland and have been instrumental in reinforcing the work of the RGAC at the local level.

In view of the relationships that have been cultivated among the stakeholders, there cannot be a more consensual and concerted approach to addressing problem gambling than through forums like the RGAC and RGNet.

2. Proactive Commitment to Responsible Gambling by Gambling Providers

Gambling providers in Queensland include clubs, hotels, casinos, wagering, and lottery outlets. Each provider has overtly committed to the Code of Practice, which is actively measured and monitored by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).

As such, each gambling provider has proactively implemented the six practices outlined in the Code of Practice, namely:

• Provision of information (e.g. responsible gambling signage and posters)
• Interaction with customers and community (e.g. dedicated person to assist problem gamblers)
• Exclusion provision (e.g. self-exclusion and venue-based exclusion policies and procedures)
• Physical environment (e.g. service of alcohol, prohibition on minors)
• Financial transactions (e.g. cashing of cheques and credit betting)
• Advertising and promotions (e.g. advertisements must not be false, misleading or deceptive)

In many cases, gambling providers have gone beyond the minimum requirements to best practices in recognition of the importance of responsible gambling to their business operation and to their customer base.

The result of this voluntary, whole-of-industry approach has seen a cultural shift to responsible gambling as the Code of Practice has become a basic feature of operating a gambling business.

3. Ongoing and Evidence-based Research on Problem Gambling

Queensland has an active gambling research program that is funded by the government.

The research program is designed to provide an evidence base for policy development. As such, the focus of the research is on prevention, protection and rehabilitation measures.

The research program includes:

• Population and industry surveys
• Academic papers
• Field reports
• Educational resources – for the general public and targeted groups (e.g. school teachers and students, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, prisoners etc.)

The findings of the research undertaken are regularly presented at the RGAC and uploaded on the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation’s website (www.olgr.qld.gov.au) for public dissemination.

4. Gambling Help Community Liaison

In order to support early intervention and prevention, gambling providers are required, under the Code of Practice, to establish links with their local gambling support service providers and to participate in community networks where responsible gambling issues could be raised. The RGNet provides a forum for the latter requirement.

As it is not the role of gaming employees to provide counselling assistance, each gambling venue has developed an ongoing relationship with their local gambling help service provider to whom they can refer a person who is having a problem with their gambling. This is done within strict guidelines to ensure the privacy of the customer is protected.

To achieve the above, each gambling venue has a dedicated Customer Liaison Officer (CLO) who is trained to perform the following duties:

• provide appropriate information to assist customers with gambling-related problems
• support staff in providing assistance to those customers
• provide assistance to staff with gambling-related problems
• handle gambling-related complaints
• administer exclusions

In addition, the Government allocates approximately $5 million annually to fund a network of face-to-face and telephone gambling counselling services across the State.
The outcome of proactive gambling help community liaison is that customers adversely affected by gambling have better access to timely and appropriate assistance and information.

5. Mandatory Responsible Service of Gambling Training

From 1 October, 2010, responsible service of gambling training has become mandatory for anyone performing gaming duties or tasks.

Gaming duties include the following:

• supervise employees who are responsible for the conduct of gaming
• supervise the access to the internal parts of a gaming machine
• supervise money clearances
• issue keys for the security of gaming machines to employees
• supervise entries in accounting records required to be kept and maintained under the Gaming Machine Act 1991
• arrange repairs to gaming equipment
• perform or witness payouts over $500 (as the designated gaming employee)

Gaming tasks include the following:

•      prepare self-exclusion orders/exclusion directions

•      prepare a revocation notice for an exclusion direction

•      make an entry in Form 3G ‘Register of Excluded Persons’

•      prepare a Form 3R ‘Report on Excluded Persons’

•      prepare a Form 3H ‘Notice of Contravention’.

Mandatory responsible service of gambling is an example of an enhanced measure to equip ‘frontline’ employees with relevant knowledge and skills to provide information and assistance to any person who may be at risk of problem gambling. This is on the basis that these employees are well-placed to observe problem gambling and to provide intervention or information about gambling help services and counselling at the appropriate time.

Summary

Queensland has a highly successfully responsible gambling and harm minimisation framework, which is supported at all levels and by all key stakeholders.

The success of the framework can be attributed to some key factors, including:

•      strong leadership and strategies by the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee (RGAC) and support for strategies through local responsible gambling networks (RGnets)

•      industry and venue-led commitment to the Code of Practice

•      on-going and evidence-based research on problem gambling

•      community information, education and liaison on problem gambling

•      mandatory training for frontline gaming employees

The rationale is simple: unless we work together, understand each other’s needs and find common grounds, we will not make substantial progress on this complex matter.

For more information contact…

Clubs Queensland

P:07 3252 0770

Nick Xenophon that forces Australians to scan their finger print before they play a poker machine.

The technology is stored on a USB stick and its operation is explained in a detailed submission to

the Productivity Commission by its manufacturer, Responsible Gaming Networks.

Senator Xenophon and Responsible Gaming Networks refer to the finger print scanner built into

the USB stick as “bio-metric id”.

Executive Director of Clubs Australia Anthony Ball said the suggestion that Australians should be

finger printed before they can play a poker machine is extremely dangerous and treats gamblers

like criminals.

“This compulsory pre-commitment technology must be ruled out by the Prime Minister. In Australia

we finger print criminals, not recreational gamblers who like to put a few dollars through the pokies

at their local club.

“Recreational punters will understandably run a million miles from technology that records their

gambling activity and even worse, scans their finger print.

“A South Australian report yesterday stated that a card based voluntary pre-commitment trial saw

gambling revenue fall by 32%.

“If the Government forces all Australians to register for a USB stick complete with finger print

scanner, then clubs across the country will suffer a $2 billion reduction in annual revenue.

“Treasury has already confirmed in writing that the introduction of full pre-commitment will reduce

state and territory government revenues. A report by KPMG has estimated this fall to be

$270million in NSW alone.

“It’s obvious no thought went into the practicalities of a compulsory pre-commitment system for all

Australians when it was announced by the Prime Minister and Andrew Wilkie. It treats every

gambler as a problem gambler.

“Under a compulsory pre-commitment system, the Yerong Creek Bowling Club in Central NSW will

have to connect its 4 poker machines to a pre-commitment system linked to machines at Crown

Casino, Penrith Leagues Club and even Perth’s Burswood Casino.

“The cost of creating a system that links every poker machine in the country, which can recognise

individual players and calculate their daily gambling spend is impossible to estimate.

“Anyone who claims compulsory pre-commitment is a magic bullet to problem gambling is trying to

hoodwink the Australian public and shut down the Australian club industry,” Anthony Ball said.

Media: Jeremy Bath 0419 267 789

30 September 2010

The most recent example of this was a sponsorship donation of $3300 to local community radio station 99-Seven FM.

The club’s Trent Dixon was on hand to present the cheque to 99-Seven FM’s Ross Wilson. (pictured)

“The Dolphins are great supporters of the station and we thank them for their continuous support,” said Mr Wilson.

“We look forward to a strong association with the club as the radio station continues to expand.

“It’s because of organisations like the Dolphins that community stations such as 99SevenFM continue to evolve.”

The Redcliffe Leagues Club  supports almost 90 local charities and organisations through various grants, donations and sponsorships.

Codey, 15, was in desperate need of new racquets as he had had his current ones for three years.

Following a letter from his mother Lisa, the club decided to donate four new racquets to Codey, pictured above.

“His old racquets are not only too worn but also too light for him now as he has grown so tall and strong,” Lisa said.

“Because Codey breaks strings so often, he needs a minimum of four racquets top ensure he’s not stuck mid-tournament without one.”

Lisa said the racquets Codey needed were $220 each and he required four of them.

“I thank the club for their generosity in providing the racquets as I am so proud of his training, dedication, attitude and ability,” she said.

“The costs of supporting Codey in his sport are phenomenal. His coaching is $210 a week, he breaks strings twice a week ($30 per restring), he wears out shoes every four weeks and travel expenses are high.”

Codey has recently won tournaments in Sawtell, Wynnum and Ballina and is working hard at raising his ranking to be eligible to enter an upcoming ITF (international) tournament.

The three year partnership sees Open Minds become the official Preferred Charity Partner of the Queensland Rugby Club (QRC) until June 2013. This positive partnership compliments QRC’s commitment to supporting the wider community.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to support a charity that shares our core values and provides vital services to individuals within our community,” said Don Stewart, CEO of the Queensland Rugby Club.

“This partnership is about more than just raising money for Open Minds; it is about QRC contributing back to the community. We have established a partnership so that we can make a real and substantial difference to the lives of people living with mental illness,” concluded Mr.  Stewart.

The partnership will see the QRC host a fundraising event for Open Minds each year through the annual Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon, providing further assistance in promoting mental illness within the community and could see other potential events such as a joint Charity Golf Day come to fruition.

As part of the Community Benefits Scheme, more than 220 community groups, charitable organisations, not-for-profit associations and individuals received a combined $3,035,017 in cash and in-kind support from this program in the 2009-10 financial year.

Townsville RSL General Manager Karla Malouf said the club is proud to make such a significant contribution.

“In these economically uncertain times, sponsorships and donations are increasingly difficult to come by, but thanks to the strength of Townsville RSL and the support of its members, we have been able to continue assisting our community” said Mrs Malouf.

Councillor Les Tyrell OAM, Mayor of the City of Townsville, said the RSL was making a strong contribution to the community through its support of local projects and activities.

“The RSL has been investing heavily in our community over a long period of time and I’m delighted that this commitment includes support for the Townsville RSL Stadium at Murray which is now under construction,” Councillor Tyrell said.

“Through the Together Townsville program, the RSL is showing its support for the local sporting community by entering into a partnership with the council for the naming rights of the stadium.”

Townsville RSL President, Rod McLeod AM said the club aims to help a wide variety of local organizations.

“That can range from AFL groups, arts societies, schools and youth programs, as well as assisting with larger community infrastructure items like the new Townsville RSL Stadium.

There is still another $150,000 available in funding until the end of this year.”

(Pictured, bottom left, Townsville RSL general manager Karla Malouf and, second from right, President Rod McLeod AM with some grant recipients)