Pokie laws set to pillage league

PROPOSED new laws that place bet limits on poker machines will cost the 14 leagues clubs that financially support teams in the NRL more than $215 million.

Other leagues clubs that support junior rugby league to the tune of $15 million each year will also be spear tackled by the plan.

Under the deal mandatory pre-commitment technology will be required in all clubs and hotels across Australia in 2014 at a total cost of $2.5 billion and will reduce club income by 40%.

Before a person can play a poker machine they must register for a „license to gamble‟, and then though the internet set a bet limit. If they reach this limit they are actually locked out from playing any poker machine.

Once registered, players will receive a card which stores their gambling activity and can be tracked by the Federal Government.

The laws have been agreed to by the Prime Minister and Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, one of the main proponents of introducing the laws. 

Over 400,000 people play rugby league in NSW and Queensland, the vast majorit being children . Leagues clubs last year donated $40 million to help fund the purchase of items such as football jumpers, shorts, socks, trophies, insurance, medical kits, referee outfits and ground developments.

Executive Director of ClubsAustralia Anthony Ball said mandatory pre-commitment will devastate rugby league in bothe states.

"For more than 50 years clubs have been the financial backbone of rugby league. This is now under threat from this new technology that will kill registered clubs and the 1,200 junior rugby league teams they support," Ball said.

"Experts say that mandatory pre-commitment technology won‟t help problem gambling and will simply drive them to other forms of gambling. The only sure thing is that clubs will close and that is very bad news for rugby league."

Already St George Leagues Club has said it will be withdrawing its $3 million annual support of the Dragons when mandatory pre-commitment technology starts. That means the current NRL premiers will either fold or be sold into private ownership.

"This technology is a lemon. It has never even been tested in Australia and we know it is going to send clubs and rugby league to the wall," Ball said.