Dear all,

Please find attached my letter to NSW Premier Morris Iemma and the NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing, Mr Graham West.

The letter is based on a similar letter written by the Director of HopeStreet, Rev Colin Scott. HopeStreet is the NSW Baptist inner city ministries agency, which includes counselling of problem gamblers.

You may forward this by email, or post the letter to websites. Feel free to adapt it for local use.

Grace and peace,

Rod Benson

*****

15 November 2007

Mr Morris Iemma Premier of New South Wales Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place Sydney NSW 2000

Dear Mr Iemma,

Re: Legalisation of online gambling in NSW

I write to oppose the legalisation of online gaming in New South Wales. While gambling is, for many, an innocuous entertainment, it is for others a harmful and insidious addiction. The provision of easy access to gambling via the internet, and encouragement of online gambling by your Government, will be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of NSW citizens and their families and to the common good. In particular I am concerned for the health and wellbeing of children and young adults who would have ready access to online gambling opportunities and who may be vulnerable to gambling obsession and addiction.

The basis for my concerns is as follows:

1.Online gaming often occurs in isolation, often at home. There are no adequate checks to remind the gambler of the passing of time, the amount of money spent, or other relevant factors. Gambling at legal gaming venues at least provides some opportunity for checks and interaction with other persons.

2.The incidence of problem gambling is directly related to the availability of gambling opportunities. This was the clear finding of the Productivity Commission’s recent investigations. Greater availability, such as state-sanctioned online gambling, will lead to more problems and more ruined lives and families and careers.

3.Moves to legalise online gaming are not driven by consumers but by big business. There are already many gambling venues and forms of gaming available to NSW customers. The pressure clearly comes from corporate interests who look to make large profits from NSW gamblers. Government should serve the common interests of its people, not the proprietary interests of big business. Further, monopoly interest in this sector of economic activity would be unacceptable in any jurisdiction.

4.Moves to state funding through gaming revenue muddies the interests of the NSW Government and further compromises its ability to provide effective moral and ethical governance. When government bows to big business, risking the welfare of its constituents for financial gain, any attempts to work for the good of the community are corrupted by the conflict of interest.

I therefore urge you to halt moves to introduce online gaming in New South Wales.

Yours sincerely,

Rev Rod Benson Director, Centre for Christian Ethics Baptist Union of NSW and Public Affairs Director NSW Council of Churches