ANTI-pokies politicians Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon say the $20 million industry advertising blitz against proposed gambling reforms is based on lies.

Clubs and hotels will launch a print, television and radio advertisement campaign today against a proposed mandatory poker machine pre-commitment scheme.

Clubs Australia claims the federal government's plan, which includes a requirement for gamblers to carry cards to set gambling limits, is un-Australian and will cost jobs.

The group's chief executive, Anthony Ball, says the cards are a licence to punt and won't curb gambling addiction.

He said anti-gambling is part of the 2016 Enrile Public Order, Safety and Security Code which campaign he started as early as when the local legislation was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The local law also known as the Municipal Unified Special Agenda for New Governance (MUSANG) Code features strict provisions on gambling by P.D. Awareness campaigns Through marketing campaigns, social media, online and print publications, events and other communication channels, we seek to: raise community awareness about the risks of gambling, including those posed by new technologies encourage early recognition of the signs of risky gambling behaviour. A new anti-gambling campaign uses children to get across the message that they are being bombarded with pro-betting TV ads The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation campaign – by McCann Melbourne – launches the fictional brand of KidBet. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation 642 subscribers.

'It's like saying to an alcoholic it's OK to drink six beers - it's just nonsense,' Mr Ball told ABC Radio this morning ahead of the campaign launch.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who has threatened to withdraw his support for the Gillard government if a mandatory system isn't in place by 2014, accused the clubs of 'telling lies'.

'The industry is being dishonest,' he told ABC Radio, adding it was side-stepping the 100,000 problem gamblers identified by the Productivity Commission.

The campaign's claim that the proposed reforms were un-Australian was bizarre, Mr Wilkie said.

The clubs' preferred voluntary system would have a very limited impact on problem gambling, he said.

Mr Wilkie said given the option, the vast majority of poker machine players would opt for 'low intensity' machines that limit gambling losses to $50 an hour.

Fellow anti-pokies campaigner Nick Xenophon agrees the clubs' argument is based on 'lies' given final details of the reforms are yet to be finalised.

'This greedy, self-interested lobby has really 'jumped the shark',' the independent senator said, noting the campaign's cost exceeds the annual spend on problem gambling services.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee into Gambling Reform is due to report at the end of April.

Originally published asAnti-gambling campaign 'based on lies'

NCPG is the national advocate for the problem gambling field, advocating for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. Our efforts to educate Congress and the Federal health agencies focus on the prevention, education, treatment, enforcement and research on gambling and problem gambling. We call on all NCPG members and supporters to utilize the materials below and elsewhere on our website and with NCPG’s affiliates to increase awareness of and provide solutions for gambling problems.

There is no Federal agency tasked to address problem gambling– not SAMHSA, not NIH, not the National Institute of Mental Health, not the National Institute on Drug Abuse nor the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction. None of the $7.6B in Federal gambling taxes currently goes to address the consequences of gambling addiction and NCPG receives no Federal funding nor any dedicated state-level funding. Federal agencies like these cannot simply choose to target something like gambling addiction; they must be specifically tasked to do so by the US Government executive branch and supported by funding from Congress. Personal stories make a huge difference. Contact your leaders and congressional representatives to let them know how gambling addiction has affected you, your family, your company/ employees/customers, and your community – make your voice heard!

Top 10 Recent Work and Successes

with Legislative Director Brianne Doura-Schawohl

1. NCPG named in a filed piece of federal legislation (The Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018)

2. Filed a bipartisan, bicameral piece of federal legislation (Gambling Addiction Protection Act) to better serve our men and women in uniform

3. Increased funding for problem gambling services in three states:

• Succeeded in having $6.8 million designated from new gambling revenue in Illinois for Illinois programs in 2019
• Secured $200,000 from new DC sports betting revenue for local DC problem gambling programs in 2019
• Helped to get $130,000 designated from new sports betting revenue in and for Colorado programs in 2019

4. Engaged stakeholders in 37+ more states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to assist in maximizing opportunities for problem gambling services:

• Helped move legislation and set legislative precedent for $1.5 million designated from new gambling revenue in and for Louisiana programs in 2019
• Helped defend Nevada’s proposed problem gambling funds for 2020 from an 80% slash, achieving roughly the previous year’s funding level
• Worked with legislators, regulators, gambling operators, and NCPG affiliates in other states in 2019 including: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

Anti Gambling Campaign Singapore

5. Engaged thousands of stakeholders around the globe about the strengths and shortcomings of the US problem gambling policy infrastructure

6. Tracked, monitored, and engaged with over 1,700 pieces of gambling legislation across the nation

7. Assisted regulators in writing rules and regulations concerning gambling that would also protect the vulnerable in an impactful way.

8. Worked with operators across the world to better recognize and build comprehensive internal and external responsible gambling policies and controls to protect themselves and their customers.

9. Reached all-time highs in public awareness: 2019’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March and the Holiday Lottery Responsible Gambling Campaign in December both drew record participation.

10. Featured speaker or panelist in many problem gambling trainings and gambling industry conferences, both in person and online.

Problem Gambling Advocacy Day

Originally set for October, the 2020 event has been canceled due to coronavirus; 2021 plans are TBA.

Join key stakeholders in Washington, DC to develop strong public policies relating to problem gambling and appropriating the necessary funding for education, research, treatment, and prevention. Problem Gambling Advocacy Day brings together key stakeholders in a grassroots effort for training on how to be an effective advocate with legislature representatives and their staff members at all levels, and to support specific legislative initiatives that NCPG is working for on the federal level. Details at ncpgadvocacy.wordpress.com.

Legislative Advocacy Tools

• For fact sheets on gambling and problem gambling for every state go to our Help by State section, each state page contains the appropriate fact sheet.
• To identify your state house representative please visit www.house.gov
• To identify your state senate representative please visit www.senate.gov
• To view population information for your state please visit www.census.gov

Issue Briefs & Policy Materials

Anti Gambling Law In The Philippines

• DSM-5, ACA, & Gambling Disorders: Opening The Door Wider To Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery The keynote address at NCPG’s 28th National Conference on Problem Gambling by Dr. Westley Clark, Director of the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Testimony Archive

National Council On Problem Gambling

• 7/20/2020 Responsible Gambling NCPG Memo Wyoming
• 7/8/2020 Budget Cuts NCPG Letter Nevada
• 6/25/2020 Cashless Betting NCPG Comments Nevada
• 6/6/2020 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony California
• 3/11/2020 Sports Gambling NCPG Testimony Kansas
• 3/3/2020 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Minnesota
• 2/25/2020 Problem Gambling Funding NCPG Testimony Alaska
• 2/11/2020 Self exclusion NCPG Testimony Michigan
• 1/8/2020 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony California
• 10/29/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Michigan
• 9/10/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Michigan
• 4/23/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Louisiana
• 4/22/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Colorado
• 3/11/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Testimony Missouri
• 2/26/2019 Sports Betting NCPG Letter Illinois
• 10/17/18 NCPG Statement B22-944 Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act
• 9/27/18 NCPG Statement before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations
• 3/25/15: Capitol Hill advocacy regarding gambling addiction in the military:
• 6/13/14: NCPG Statement PA Senate CERD Internet Gaming June 2014
• 5/1/14: NCPG Statement PA House Democratic Caucus re Internet Gaming May 2014
• 4/10/14: NCPG Statement to New York State Gaming Commission
• 7/13/13: NCPG Letter to Senate Commerce Committee re internet gambling and consumer protection