Minute by the Lord Mayor
To Council:
For too long, successive State Governments
have been addicted to the proceeds of gambling and let the industry expand
unchecked to a point where we have shocking rates of gambling harm and numerous
inquiries finding the industry supports organised crime.
I have a long history of opposing the
proliferation of gambling in this state, including the establishment of
Sydney’s first casino at Pyrmont.
In 1992, as Member for Bligh in the NSW
Parliament, I opposed the Casino Control Bill because it would provide an
outlet for criminals to pursue illegal practices and cause further harm to
gamblers and their families. My concerns were vindicated by the recent Bell
inquiry into the Star, which found evidence of money laundering, organised
crime, fraud and foreign interference, concluding that it is unsuitable to hold
a casino licence.
In 1999, I called on the Government to
strengthen its so-called “Responsible Gambling” Bill, asking:
What
does a bill that has in its title the term "responsible gambling"
reflect of our social values? Where have we arrived as a society when
governments sell assets which generate revenue to provide better services and
instead raise revenue through the misery and exploitation of its citizens—the
problem gamblers?
In 2003, I opposed the Gaming Machines
Amendment (Shutdown Periods) Bill which sought to water down a range of
gambling harm minimisation measures introduced just two years earlier.
And now here we are – three decades later –
and the State Government is stuck in the same cycle of increasing revenue
raising opportunities for gaming venues and itself, while occasionally
conceding that something must be done to mitigate the devastation gambling
causes within our communities.
I am now calling on Councillors to support
the latest gambling harm minimisation initiative by Independent members of the
Legislative Assembly cross bench, Alex Greenwich, Greg Piper and Dr Joe McGirr.
As they state in their open letter to the
Premier calling for a Special Commission of Inquiry into Gambling Harm:
Data
from the NSW Gambling Survey and the Productivity Commission show that 3.8
percent of all adults in this state are either problem gamblers or at risk, and
together they represent up to 75 per cent of electronic gaming machine
spending. Harm minimisation experts have reported countless examples of clubs
and hotels knowingly allowing, or at time encouraging, problem gamblers to use
electronic gaming machines in their venues.
Here are some more sobering statistics:
·
With more than 86,000 gaming machines, NSW has more
gaming machines than any other place in the world aside from Nevada.
·
Around $95 billion is gambled through gaming
machines across NSW each year, including billions of dollars in proceeds of
crime.
·
While gamblers in the City of Sydney lost $282
million in 2021, the highest losses were sustained in council areas where
residents can least afford it – $562 million in Canterbury Bankstown, $527
million in Fairfield and $356 million in Cumberland.
Although this should be more than enough to
illustrate how harmful gaming machines are in our communities, we can’t lose
sight of the fact that behind these high-level statistics are real people’s
lives, in ruin. Studies repeatedly highlight the link between gambling and
suicide, bankruptcy and criminal behaviour, including family violence.
Unlike many countries, Australia does not
limit gaming machines to casinos and betting shops, but instead permits them in
hotels, clubs and pubs. Gaming machines are everywhere. The role of successive
State Governments in enabling this harm is indisputable, and it is incumbent
upon the current State Government to fix it.
Gambling harm minimisation experts and the
NSW Crime Commission say that the only way to reduce harm from gambling habits
and organised crime is to introduce a mandatory cashless gaming card. The one
card would have built-in harm reductions like restrictions on losses and hours
played, traceable expenditure, universal to all venues and linked to a
state-wide exclusion register. Currently people seeking to control their
gambling habit must register venue by venue and then rely on staff in each
venue to recognise them to deny them entry. I also support experts’ calls to
turn gaming machines off after midnight because that is when most harm is done.
In addition, councils have been excluded from
making submissions to, or appealing decisions made by, the Independent Liquor
and Gaming Authority about gaming machines in their local government area, even
though we are the level of government closest to the people. We should have a
right of submission and appeal.
COUNCILLOR
CLOVER MOORE
Lord Mayor
Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scott –
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
3.8 per
cent of all adults in NSW are either problem gamblers or at risk, and together
they represent up to 75 per cent of electronic gaming machine spending;
(ii)
with
more than 86,000 gaming machines, NSW has more gaming machines than any other
place in the world aside from Nevada;
(iii)
around
$95 billion is gambled through gaming machines across NSW each year, including
billions of dollars in proceeds of crime;
(iv)
while
gamblers in the City of Sydney lost $282 million in 2021, the highest losses
were sustained in council areas where residents can least afford it, including
$562 million in Canterbury Bankstown, $527 million in Fairfield and $356
million in Cumberland; and
(v)
that of the 86,000 electronic gaming machines
across NSW, The Star Sydney Casino Sydney has 1,500; and
(B)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Premier and Opposition Leader
calling on them to:
(i)
take
immediate action to reduce the harm caused by the proliferation of gambling
machines including by:
(a)
introducing
a mandatory cashless gaming card scheme;
(b)
establishing
a state-wide exclusion register with management and oversight that is
independent of the gambling industry;
(c)
outlawing
the use of gaming machines in hotels, clubs and pubs between 12am and 10am; and
(d)
restoring
the right of councils to make submissions to, and appeal decisions by, the
Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority about gaming machines in their local
government area; and
(ii)
support
a Special Commission of Inquiry into Gambling Harm that examines the influence
of the gambling industry over public policy on gambling harm.
The Minute, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.
S051491