Darebin Council to boot pokies-funded clubs from council grounds

Sports clubs and community groups in Melbourne’s north getting money from pokies venues will be cut off from support by Darebin Council under a new gambling policy.

Sporting and community clubs that receive help from pokies venues will be booted from ovals and cut off from cash by Darebin Council under a new gambling policy, which one football team says will force clubs to fold.

Darebin Council last night adopted a controversial action plan that will cut or reduce council support for any sporting or community clubs that operated, or received financial or in kind support from pokies venues.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is banning sports clubs that rely on pokies money the answer? Tell us below

Under the policy groups operating poker machines, such as the Northcote Park Football Club, will not be able to access council sporting grounds, venues or council property, and be ineligible for any council assistance.

Any groups receiving sponsorships or grants from EGM revenue will have their council support reduced by an equal level.

CASEY GAMBLERS LOSE $12.6M ON POKIES IN AUGUST

And community groups who meet in venues with pokies, such as Darebin RSL or Zagames Reservoir, will not be supported by the council.

Pokies venues are required by law to reinvest 8.33 per cent of earnings for community benefit, with donations and sponsorships of sporting and community clubs common.

Darebin mayor and Alliance for Gambling Reform member Susan Rennie

said the council was taking a strong stand against poker machine use and had received positive feedback from a number of clubs about its initiative.

Darebin Council is booting sports clubs that get money from pokies machines.

“These clubs welcome this policy direction which will assist them to make safer choices for sport and recreation, with one club already submitting a transition plan to divest their current sponsorship arrangement, while another stopped their sponsorship arrangement all together,” she said.

Cr Susan Rennie said the policy was bold and ambitious in its goal of reducing harm caused by gambling.

“Every year in Darebin people lose over $80 million to gambling, and many of these people are the ones who can least afford it.”

However, Northcote Park Football Club general manager Dennis McNiece said his club would go out of business if the policy went through.

Northcote Park operates Northern Jackpot Pokies casino in Brunswick which took in $4.12 million in gaming revenue in the 2017/18 financial year.

“We’re a hard working community club that’s always done the right thing,” he said.

“Money we get from gaming goes back into the community and running the football and netball club. Without these funds, how do we continue?”

Mr McNiece estimated the club received about $200,000 in revenue from the casino.

He said the club ran strict functions and regular lectures on the harms of alcohol, drugs and gambling.

Olympic Hotel manager Mary Johnson said the “ridiculous” policy would stop pubs and clubs funding sports and community groups, removing the positive impact those initiatives had.

The Olympic Hotel took in $10.1 million in EGM revenue in the 2017/18 financial year.