Parasitic clubs prey on addicts

Parasitic clubs prey on addicts

ISN’T it about time the public on the northern beaches showed they can’t be swayed by cynical advertising campaigns by big business and supported reforming our gambling culture?

As a blow-in from overseas, one of my saddest first impressions of Sydney many years ago was of these dismal rooms that dominated hotels and clubs, full of miserable looking people fixated on flashing lights and whirring wheels.

For our multi-million dollar clubs to claim an attempt to help problem gamblers is an issue about personal freedom, or that their good, honest charity work will be affected is a disgrace.

Would it be an excuse for the clubs to say jobs and community work will suffer if the clubs made money selling heroin?

The effects of problem gambling on society are actually much worse than those of illicit drug addiction.

These super rich clubs are making money immorally and standing any number of sad children or disgruntled old folks in front of them does not sway me.

So your community programs and jobs will suffer if this revenue is reduced?

Tough, this money will still exist and go through the economy, through shops, on clothes and food and rent, a far better result for us all.

Our clubs are not communities, they are large businesses making some of their money by parasitically preying on addicts, don’t be fooled.

Julian Brown, Manly Vale