NRL political stance

[LCA]

I am outraged that the NRL is using resources to posit the case that the Federal Govt's legislation to limit the losses of gamblers on poker machines should be opposed. As a long term member of my club, Wests Tigers, I find it disgraceful that David Gallop and the NRL would enter into the political realm in this regard.

I have visitied my nearest and dearest friend, also a WT member, at Callan Park, as he had to be hospitalised to help break his addiction to poker machine gambling.His addiction had seen him lose all savings and his capacity to function as the intelligent, resourceful and decent young man that he is. I wonder if David Gallop or other NRL officials have ever had to do the same.

I will pursue WT's opinion on the NRL decision, but I find it a disgrace and I feel like abandoning my WT membership, not because my love on footy or the WT has diminished, but the fact that they are aligned to an NRL administration that would even dare take this political move.

I have long thought that David Gallop, far from being a progressive and inspirational leader, is ponderous and open to influence. This appalling decision confirms it for me. Gallop should resign immediately.

I will pursue this matter to the limits of my capability. The only thing that would deter me from that position is if Gallop and his lot see the gross indecency and hypcorisy of this decision and choose to abandon the advertisement campaign. I have little faith that it will transpire that way, but I live in hope.

I await the response from the NRL. I urge other WT members and fans who think similarly to me to contact the NRL immediatley.

 

[macman]

Profiteering from peoples addition is appalling - leagues clubs must work on other methods to achieve financial success
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[Cultured_Bogan]

Once the TV deal is renegotiated, the NRL/IC should have a mandate that clubs should be self sufficient within a certain period of time in order to wean the football clubs off leagues club handouts.
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[alien]

there could be quite a few nrl clubs who wouldnt be able to survive without support from their leagues club

 

[alien]

thats probably why the nrl has taken that stance - because they know some nrl clubs rely on their leagues club and those leagues clubs get most of their money from the pokies.

 

[LCA]

thats probably why the nrl has taken that stance - because they know some nrl clubs rely on their leagues club and those leagues clubs get most of their money from the pokies.

And the legislation proposed by the govt is NOT about getting rid of pokies. It is about adults making adult decisions on how much they are prepared to lose BEFORE they start playing. Nothing more than that. To oppose it, as the clubs lobby and NRL are doing, is saying that my club (and others) need to rip off people with gambling addictions to maintain the entertainment they provide for fans like me.

But, I can guarentee that won't be the line they take in the ads. Why aren't the NRL running ads on the miniscule amount they currently get from legal gambling on the game (and haven't they managed that well…NOT) and lobby for more of that?? This is a disgraceful decision by NRL leaders and they will be held accountable for it.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

thats probably why the nrl has taken that stance - because they know some nrl clubs rely on their leagues club and those leagues clubs get most of their money from the pokies.

And the legislation proposed by the govt is NOT about getting rid of pokies. It is about adults making adult decisions on how much they are prepared to lose BEFORE they start playing. Nothing more than that. To oppose it, as the clubs lobby and NRL are doing, is saying that my club (and others) need to rip off people with gambling addictions to maintain the entertainment they provide for fans like me.

But, I can guarentee that won't be the line they take in the ads. Why aren't the NRL running ads on the miniscule amount they currently get from legal gambling on the game (and haven't they managed that well…NOT) and lobby for more of that?? This is a disgraceful decision by NRL leaders and they will be held accountable for it.

I agree LCA. Instead of challenging poker machine reform itself, they should be challenging for a larger slice of the money that is made out of the game itself. Unfortunately, problem gambling isn't exclusive to poker machines and there are probably many a folk who have put their mortgages on the line through OTR betting and such.

I still maintain that soon as the IC is in place there should be an emphasis on football clubs being a standalone & solvent venture in their own rights without the need for grants from leagues clubs. The Pamfers are a perfect example of when football clubs rely on their leagues grants far too much.

 

[hammertime]

thats probably why the nrl has taken that stance - because they know some nrl clubs rely on their leagues club and those leagues clubs get most of their money from the pokies.

And the legislation proposed by the govt is NOT about getting rid of pokies. It is about adults making adult decisions on how much they are prepared to lose BEFORE they start playing. Nothing more than that. To oppose it, as the clubs lobby and NRL are doing, is saying that my club (and others) need to rip off people with gambling addictions to maintain the entertainment they provide for fans like me.

But, I can guarentee that won't be the line they take in the ads. Why aren't the NRL running ads on the miniscule amount they currently get from legal gambling on the game (and haven't they managed that well…NOT) and lobby for more of that?? This is a disgraceful decision by NRL leaders and they will be held accountable for it.

How about Adults making Adult decisions 24/7?

I'm sick of these 'illnesses' and 'addictions' that are basically weak minded people not taking responsibility for their actions. These aren't diseases and people need to simply man up.

The legislation will majorly reduce revenue from the casual gambler, which is most of us, by making it difficult and a judgmental process to have a quick punt on certain machines.
**All it will do is shift the punter away from the Clubs and Pubs to in front of their PC.** Which will in fact weaken our controls if anything.

I would prefer that if I was having a punt that my money was going to the community rather than online overseas to a entity only concerned about profits.

The only way to ensure problem gamblers spend their money wisely is to flag them and put automatic deductions on their salary into a Coles Online account.

Wilkie needs to take a step back and look at the big picture of what this might do long-term when coupled with the NBN. Sure, we might see some short term impacts. But if they really are problem gamblers, don't you think they will simply just use the TAB, or use a PC?

 

[LCA]

thats probably why the nrl has taken that stance - because they know some nrl clubs rely on their leagues club and those leagues clubs get most of their money from the pokies.

And the legislation proposed by the govt is NOT about getting rid of pokies. It is about adults making adult decisions on how much they are prepared to lose BEFORE they start playing. Nothing more than that. To oppose it, as the clubs lobby and NRL are doing, is saying that my club (and others) need to rip off people with gambling addictions to maintain the entertainment they provide for fans like me.

But, I can guarentee that won't be the line they take in the ads. Why aren't the NRL running ads on the miniscule amount they currently get from legal gambling on the game (and haven't they managed that well…NOT) and lobby for more of that?? This is a disgraceful decision by NRL leaders and they will be held accountable for it.

How about Adults making Adult decisions 24/7?

I'm sick of these 'illnesses' and 'addictions' that are basically weak minded people not taking responsibility for their actions. These aren't diseases and people need to simply man up.

The legislation will majorly reduce revenue from the casual gambler, which is most of us, by making it difficult and a judgmental process to have a quick punt on certain machines.
**All it will do is shift the punter away from the Clubs and Pubs to in front of their PC.** Which will in fact weaken our controls if anything.

I would prefer that if I was having a punt that my money was going to the community rather than online overseas to a entity only concerned about profits.

The only way to ensure problem gamblers spend their money wisely is to flag them and put automatic deductions on their salary into a Coles Online account.

Wilkie needs to take a step back and look at the big picture of what this might do long-term when coupled with the NBN. Sure, we might see some short term impacts. But if they really are problem gamblers, don't you think they will simply just use the TAB, or use a PC?

I apprecite a considered response but i disagree on two major points: 1\. If it was as simple as "manning up" as you put it (and I have no idea how that relates to women addicted to poker machines…some 37% of those with addictions) then there would be no need for places like Rozelle Clinic or G-Line, to name a few places. So, yeh, it's simple, just get over it. Try telling that to other addicts, I'm sure that'll solve their problem. 2\. Poker machine addiction is unlike ther addictions. My mate would never walk into a TAB to bet on horses or footy or anything like that. For him, and others, it's not so much a gambling addiction as much as a pokie addiction. They are very different things. Why not empower him and others to take control of the situation they find themselves in when they enter a poker machine room by setting a limit to what they choose to lose? Or, are you saying that the imposition caused for you having to do it is worse than the suffering of other individuals and their families? With a self-centred attitude like that, you'd make an excellent NRL CEO.

 

[innsaneink]

Thats like telling an alco dont go past 4 drinks per day….you'll be right that way.

If theyre addicted they have NO control over the situation, it controls them.

If its just pokies why not just relocate - a geographical - to somewhere that they dont exist.
I'll tell you now & I'd bet my last $ on it - pardon the pun, theyd soon find something else.
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"Just one....wont hurt" has never worked with addicts.
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As for your description of the previous posters ''self centred attitude" ...well it is the monority this is all being proclaimed for, those that can use these things responsibly, the majority once again have to bend for those that have avenues to help themselves but dont or cant use them.

 

[happy_tiger]

Its hard to make a call on this . I too know someone who had a gambling problem and they got locked up for stealing from their employer Very handy footballer as well . Maybe we need to produce a drivers licence to play the pokies ,punt on nags etc and the addicts can then be listed on their drivers licence . With the on line gambling same thing you need to provide some sort of ID when you apply for an account and same thing . As LCA said the last thing you want to do is drive them underground because this will make it messy . On the other side of the coin clubs need to be able to stand on their own two feet and if they can't well they need to locate or perish . Sorry but we need to start dealing with reality and stop treating the profits fron the game as a charity to clubs and CEO's that can't run their clubs efficently

 

[Centaur]

Poker machines are evil.

But with that being the case, that means the Devil is funding your kids running around on the footy oval on the weekend.

There is no easy solution to the Poker Machine debate. Especially in the short term.

 

[Marshall_magic]

How about Adults making Adult decisions 24/7?

I'm sick of these 'illnesses' and 'addictions' that are basically weak minded people not taking responsibility for their actions. These aren't diseases and people need to simply man up.

The legislation will majorly reduce revenue from the casual gambler, which is most of us, by making it difficult and a judgmental process to have a quick punt on certain machines.
**All it will do is shift the punter away from the Clubs and Pubs to in front of their PC.** Which will in fact weaken our controls if anything.

I would prefer that if I was having a punt that my money was going to the community rather than online overseas to a entity only concerned about profits.

The only way to ensure problem gamblers spend their money wisely is to flag them and put automatic deductions on their salary into a Coles Online account.

Wilkie needs to take a step back and look at the big picture of what this might do long-term when coupled with the NBN. Sure, we might see some short term impacts. But if they really are problem gamblers, don't you think they will simply just use the TAB, or use a PC?

Well said hammertime, people need to be responsible for their own actions. These gambling addictions cannot be resolved unless the addicted person can admit they have a problem (which is usually hard for them to do). All the changes will do is drive people away from poker machines and towards other forms of gambling such as donkeys and dishlickers, until the do-gooders decide they don't like that either and ridiculous restrictions are placed on these activities for the majority because the minority are unable to control themselves.

there could be quite a few nrl clubs who wouldnt be able to survive without support from their leagues club

Why do you think these leagues clubs exist in the first place? The NRL needed to handle the situation better though, after the government tightened legislation on Cigarettes and alcohol, gambling was always going to follow.

 

[hammertime]

How about Adults making Adult decisions 24/7?

I'm sick of these 'illnesses' and 'addictions' that are basically weak minded people not taking responsibility for their actions. These aren't diseases and people need to simply man up.

The legislation will majorly reduce revenue from the casual gambler, which is most of us, by making it difficult and a judgmental process to have a quick punt on certain machines.
**All it will do is shift the punter away from the Clubs and Pubs to in front of their PC.** Which will in fact weaken our controls if anything.

I would prefer that if I was having a punt that my money was going to the community rather than online overseas to a entity only concerned about profits.

The only way to ensure problem gamblers spend their money wisely is to flag them and put automatic deductions on their salary into a Coles Online account.

Wilkie needs to take a step back and look at the big picture of what this might do long-term when coupled with the NBN. Sure, we might see some short term impacts. But if they really are problem gamblers, don't you think they will simply just use the TAB, or use a PC?

I apprecite a considered response but i disagree on two major points: 1\. If it was as simple as "manning up" as you put it (and I have no idea how that relates to women addicted to poker machines…some 37% of those with addictions) then there would be no need for places like Rozelle Clinic or G-Line, to name a few places. So, yeh, it's simple, just get over it. Try telling that to other addicts, I'm sure that'll solve their problem. 2\. Poker machine addiction is unlike ther addictions. My mate would never walk into a TAB to bet on horses or footy or anything like that. For him, and others, it's not so much a gambling addiction as much as a pokie addiction. They are very different things. Why not empower him and others to take control of the situation they find themselves in when they enter a poker machine room by setting a limit to what they choose to lose? Or, are you saying that the imposition caused for you having to do it is worse than the suffering of other individuals and their families? With a self-centred attitude like that, you'd make an excellent NRL CEO.

LCA, if you think my argument was self-centered, you completely misunderstood. I hardly ever have a punt on the pokies, I don't care if I never play them again. But I do care about our clubs and pubs, they are often the hub of a community and invest in everyone to make suburbs a better place. I don't want my grandparents not having anywhere to enjoy their last few years left on this earth because a handful of people can't use the existing mechanisms to help them with their addiction.

There are tax funded counseling services, help lines, voluntary pre-commitments. If someone can't take the initiative to take free counseling, why would they set a reasonable pre-limit? If it's truly an addiction, why are we treating this differently to drugs or alcohol? In those cases we punish the offender only. Why does this need to be different?

All you will see is pokies programs pop-up on PC's (after all, that's all they are), and we will have even less control on it then we do now. All after spending our tax-dollars to do this.

It's costly misguided idealistic policy.

 

[stryker]

I agree with Hammer and MM.

I'm sick of hearing how this country is slowly being turned into a nanny state by the likes of Brown and the Independants.

Sure people have gambling addictions. How many dont? A hell of a lot more….

I dont play them but if I wanted to I should have the right to do so. Addicts do need to stand up and get help. Those of us who arent addicts should not be punished due to the weaknesses of others.

If that sounds harsh...so be it. I dont care.

Not just sporting teams will be destroyed through this ill concieved legislation. A myriad of community services are also in peril.

Like Hammer said, this is nothing more than idealistic claptrap. I'm on the clubs side here and support Gallop.