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1. I support Cyenne's brave comments one hundred per cent! When we have a situation where well over 40% of pokies profits come from problem gamblers, where over 80% of problem gamblers are pokie addicts, where lives are ruined by such addictions, where for every problem gambler the lives of somewhere between 5 and 7 others - wives, husbands, partners, children, friends - are negatively impacted, we are faced with a very serious moral issue - a social justice issue. When you consider the fact that so-called "Catholic" clubs are involved in opposition to well thought out proposals to minimise poker machine harm we are faced with scandal. This issue is not comparable to housie (bingo) or raffles so long associated with church fund raising. This issue is about the ruin of families and individuals who cannot cope with their particular mental illness. Our church leaders need to grasp the nettle and speak out. We need church leaders with the courage to confront this situation where the word "Catholic" is directly connected with social harm.

   Posted By: Robert

2. Agreed! I'd suggest that for many of these clubs "Catholic" identity means little... Recently I saw that the word Catholic has been taken off the signage at the Illawarra Catholic Club - a positive move, in my opinion, given that these clubs have no Catholic 'mission' to speak of. On a side note, I have similar feelings about labour clubs and tradies, that exploit workers' addictions - where is the solidarity in that?

   Posted By: MY

3. Well argued cyenne! I too am appalled. The Clubs know that if the reckless behaviour of problem gamblers is curtailed down will go their poker machine profits. A pre-committment strategy might just work and they will use every PR trick (including misinformation and fabrication) to stop its implementation.

   Posted By: Joe Quigley

4. I also agree. I worked at a Catholic Club years ago and there wasn't a lot of "Catholic" going on then! The three Catholic Clubs I know of are now not even willing to call themselves Catholic Clubs. They use pseudonyms, such as "Club Whatever" whereas once they were called the "Whatever Catholic Club". I think Pokie reform is needed. It won't stop pokie players but it may just stop a few lives being ruined at the extreme end of the spectrum. I would also agree that this should be a Catholic value worth supporting. Where are our Church leaders on this topic? Do they have any sway over our Catholic Clubs?

   Posted By: Anthony

5. As a Catholic I feel embarrassed that the so called Catholic Clubs seem to rely heavily on poker Machines. We are now well aware that addicted gamblers ruin their lives and often those of their family by this tragic and wanton habit. The clubs served a great purpose when Catholics were marginalised and often poor and in need of company. That is not the case today, we should stand for moral right. I hope our Bishops speak up, or at least take Catholic out of these venues. Margaret Coffey

   Posted By: Margaret M.Coffey

6. I would just like to say how relieved I have been that this article was taken the way I intended: as a commentary on clubs that call themselves Catholic, and not Catholicism itself. Thank you for reading, and for your comments. Knowing that these reforms, designed solely to help poker machine addicts, have widespread support is fantastic.

   Posted By: Tom Cummings (aka cyenne)

7. I think Cyenne is talking nonsense. Quite simply, the government's crazy scheme will not help problem gamblers one iota. But it will harm the clubs. In some cases it may even make them unviable. Catholic clubs are no different from other clubs in the sense that they must protect their financial viability. Clubs do a lot of good for the community. It would be a pity if this were to end all because of a scheme which will be of no help whatsoever to those it is supposed to help. I encourage the Catholic clubs to continue the campaign against this bad law with renewed vigour!

   Posted By: Frank Agli

8. Frank There was a time when clubs and pubs could make a profit without relying on poker machines. So why not now? Any business that depends upon roughly 50% of their income coming from people with a mental illness needs to reexamine their priorities - to put it very mildly! Any pub or club manager/owner who can happily turn a blind eye to the damage his or her poker machines are doing to individuals, families and in some cases communities, needs to have a good look at themselves. The argument that clubs and pubs support the community is misleading. Think of the terrible damage pokies do to families. Think of the money that could go back into the community if it weren't wasted on pokies. The Productivity Commission, which spent a long time examining this issue, has recommended a trial of mandatory pre-commnitiment and though mandatory pre-commitment won't cure the pokie problem, I have no doubt that it would have a positive impact - otherwise the pubs and clubs wouldn't be screaming.

   Posted By: Robert

9. Robert, I agree that problem gamblers must be helped, but I believe that Mr Wilkes's and the Government's scheme will not help them. As I understand it, gamblers will be able to set their own limit, so what is there to stop problem gamblers setting themselves an irresponsibly high limit? Experts have said that the scheme will not work. The clubs are worried firstly, because of the cost they must incur to implement the scheme, and secondly, because they fear that it will be the responsible gamblers who won't be bothered getting a licence and so will give up using the pokies. For the record, I personally do not gamble at all.

   Posted By: Frank Agli

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