Aiming for Gambling Harm Reduction

Bulletin

Thursday 29 July

Aiming for Gambling Harm Reduction

The Gambling Harm Reduction Bill, sponsored by MP Te Ururoa Flavell of the Maori Party has recently been submitted for ballot, because according to him, “gambling has had a devastating impact on low income communities”.

Graeme Ramsey, Problem Gambling Foundation CEO, says “The bill addresses not only measures relating to harm minimisation, but also ensures that money from gambling benefits the community and gives communities real power over gambling”.

The Bill proposes several changes to the Gambling Act 2003 including: community consultation to reduce the number of pokie machines from areas where they are concentrated; phasing out the distribution of pokie funds through “pokie trusts”; and ensuring that at least 80% of funds generated from gambler losses are returned to the same community they were generated from.

“This will ensure accountability and transparency which we do not have through pokie trusts” says Mr Ramsey.

The Gambling Harm Reduction Bill is an initiative which Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) strongly supports.

DCM has made a conscious effort not to apply for funding from the gambling industry, instead choosing to put our energy into more rewarding, socially useful and community-wide fundraising activities – such as our annual Bookfair that will be held at the TSB Bank Arena on 21-22 August.

ENDS