Issue date
Nearly 50 sporting bodies have already signed up to a united campaign opposing proposed changes to gambling legislation - and now Yachting New Zealand is urging affiliated yacht clubs around the country to add their voice.
Clubs are encouraged to join the “collective sport voice” and make a submission against a key element of the Government’s Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill, which would legalise online casino gambling and award up to 15 licences to offshore operators.
Unlike pokie trusts, which are required to return a portion of gambling profits to community initiatives, the proposed offshore operators would face no such obligations. Instead, the Government would gain auction revenue, a 12 per cent casino licence duty, GST, and a 1.24 per cent problem gambling levy - but community sport would receive nothing.
"The legislation, in its current form, puts at serious risk one of the few reliable funding streams many of our clubs depend on," said Raynor Haagh, Yachting New Zealand's interim chief executive. "The issue is not the legalisation of online gambling itself, but the removal of the principle that gambling profits should benefit the community, especially grassroots sport."
Research and international trends show that online gambling is quickly overtaking traditional pokie machines. The concern is that as gamblers move online, funding distributed via pokie trusts will shrink or disappear without any replacement.
"About 50 per cent of pokie funding that goes to sport ends up at the club level," said Haagh. “We know many of our clubs are already struggling; costs are rising, sponsorship is harder to secure, and local government support is declining. These grants have long been a lifeline, helping keep fees down, improving facilities, and enabling more people to get out on the water."
Public submissions on the Bill are now open and close on 17 August.
Haagh urged every yacht club to make their voice heard by submitting to the select committee.
"It takes just 30 or 40 minutes to tell your story and explain what these grants mean for your club and your community. If MPs don't hear from us, they'll assume we're not concerned and we can't afford to let that happen."
Yachting New Zealand has sent all affiliated clubs a guidance pack, including a submission template and step-by-step instructions.
"We're asking every club to seriously consider making a submission before the deadline," said Haagh. "And we're here to help - if clubs need support, they can contact us directly."
For more information, contact Haagh at raynor@yachtingnz.org.nz or get in touch with your local regional development manager.
