Thursday, March 02, 2006
Kids schooled on the profits of gambling
Most pubs have been ruthlessly sapped of any character by an invasion of 'Pokies' (slot machines), Keno (24 hour TV bingo) and racing.
Silence greets you when you walk in; the only patrons obsessively pushing money into machines or staring gormlessly up at TVs.
For some Queenslanders, the introduction of Pokies has been the saviour of pubs, bringing in enough revenue to keep them viable. For others, Pokies have been the ruin of Brisbane's nightlife, turning what was once a decent place to get a drink and have a yarn into little more than a betting shop with a bar and bright blue carpet.
In an ironic twist, most pubs that were once perhaps just viable, have become addicted to Pokies. They have turned so many patrons off, that they could now never survive without them. Other pubs have simply been attracted by the massive profits to be made.
Now we have evidence that it is now just private enterprise growing fat, suckling off the teat of a state's hopeless addiction to gambling.
The Queensland government takes so much money, it could barely function without it. This press release from the Deputy Premier's Office reveals just how hopelessly indebted to is.
A back-of-a-fag-packet calculation suggests that the Queensland government takes some $325m per year in licensing revenues.
The press release howls "The [State Opposition's] discussion paper [on reducing Pokies by 20%] has to tell people which schools will be closed, which road projects will be delayed and what services will be cut to support its gambling policies."
That discussion paper might also wish to include which family traumas might be averted through tighter regulations on gambling, how much money would be saved by not having to treating addicts and supporting broken families and how much more money might circulate because people will once again visit a pub.
You must question the politics too. I would have though it a sign of weakness for a government to admit that it is funding schools and hospitals through gambling revenues.
Kids schooled on the profits of gambling
Posted by Living with Matilda at 1:11 PM
Most pubs have been ruthlessly sapped of any character by an invasion of 'Pokies' (slot machines), Keno (24 hour TV bingo) and racing.
Silence greets you when you walk in; the only patrons obsessively pushing money into machines or staring gormlessly up at TVs.
For some Queenslanders, the introduction of Pokies has been the saviour of pubs, bringing in enough revenue to keep them viable. For others, Pokies have been the ruin of Brisbane's nightlife, turning what was once a decent place to get a drink and have a yarn into little more than a betting shop with a bar and bright blue carpet.
In an ironic twist, most pubs that were once perhaps just viable, have become addicted to Pokies. They have turned so many patrons off, that they could now never survive without them. Other pubs have simply been attracted by the massive profits to be made.
Now we have evidence that it is now just private enterprise growing fat, suckling off the teat of a state's hopeless addiction to gambling.
The Queensland government takes so much money, it could barely function without it. This press release from the Deputy Premier's Office reveals just how hopelessly indebted to is.
A back-of-a-fag-packet calculation suggests that the Queensland government takes some $325m per year in licensing revenues.
The press release howls "The [State Opposition's] discussion paper [on reducing Pokies by 20%] has to tell people which schools will be closed, which road projects will be delayed and what services will be cut to support its gambling policies."
That discussion paper might also wish to include which family traumas might be averted through tighter regulations on gambling, how much money would be saved by not having to treating addicts and supporting broken families and how much more money might circulate because people will once again visit a pub.
You must question the politics too. I would have though it a sign of weakness for a government to admit that it is funding schools and hospitals through gambling revenues.
Posted by Living with Matilda at 1:11 PM
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| I am employed by Brisbane City Council. All views expressed in this blog are my own and in no way reflect the views of my employer. |
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