A bit of good news. In late 2019 [i.e. the before times] The ACT introduced a program that would release $632,811 in grants to help clubs across the ACT diversify their business models away from pokies. The grants were spearheaded by government minister and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.
This is a very surprising move – all state and territory governments bring in huge amounts of revenue based on pokie income and so these grants represent the government, not just the clubs, putting the common good above self-interest.
It is even more surprising because just last year the government and opposition stood against other gaming reforms introduced by Rattenbury to more tightly regulate pokies by reducing the spend limit and introduce “time played” counters.
Because of Covid the grant process was mothballed until this week, when it was announced that 10 clubs were being given the grants, including clubs like the Southern Cross Yarralumla Yacht club which made the difficult but commendable decision to go pokie free in 2020.
Friends, pokies are a scourge in Canberra. One in five Canberrans use poker machines to gamble, and 10% of the population reported problem gambling symptoms according to ACTCOSS research. That’s 40 000 people. Poker machines destroy lives so the rest of us can have subsidised steak and beer. Like every idol, they promise the world but only ever impoverish. They promise freedom but deliver shame and despair.
So, this is a small step, but a very good step in the right direction and it might be worth sending Shane Rattenbury a thank you note, as I have done.
And I want to acknowledge that you, yourself, might be among those 40 000 Canberrans. I want you to know that you are not stuck. The gospel of Jesus – who was impoverished so we could be rich and marched toward shame and despair so we could be free indeed – gives grace and power to overcome. But you can’t do it on your own, any more than you can do the rest of the Christian life by white-knuckling it. You can talk to Anna or me or call lifeline on 13 11 14.
grace and peace,
Steve