Pokie trusts scare-mongering community org

Pokie trusts scare-mongering community organisations

"It is very disappointing to find that worthy charities are being scare-mongered into believing that funding grants are drying up," says Richard Northey, Chair of the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF).

The Charitable Gaming Association has claimed that regulations passed to control problem gambling and minimise gambling harm are the reason organisations such as the Wellington Night Shelter are missing out on community grants.

However, the Winter 2005 edition of grants to community groups and grants declined, compiled by the Charitable Gaming Association itself, lists that the Wellington Night Shelter had previously applied for grants from two pokie Trusts, and were declined on both occasions.

"Having previously applied for grants twice, and been declined on both occasions makes me wonder why the pokie Trusts should then tell the Night Shelter not to bother applying? Especially when the pokie Trusts concerned still granted a total of almost $6 million to sports," says Mr Northey.

"This is also yet another example of community organisations becoming dependent on pokie money. When communities become dependent on pokie grants, philanthropy is the first thing society loses," says Northey.

"The pokie Trusts are just trying to get public support by scare-mongering."

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