“I don’t care anymore. I am going to be the Bernie Banton of the pokie industry,” Stolz says referring to the campaigner who died of mesothelioma as he fought for the rights of those who suffered from asbestos-related diseases.
The power of the pokie lobby has long been a fact of political life in this state.
It is an industry with no costly inputs that produces nothing but (poverty and) great geysers of cash,so it has money to spare in defending its patch.
The state’s treasury is wedded to the tax revenue it provides,its politicians and parties are both hooked on its donations and fearful of its retribution.
As it boasts on itswebsite ClubsNSW has extracted a “memorandum of understanding” from the state government in which our politicians promise not to alter industry’s regulations or taxes.
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When one minister,Victor Dominello,finally found the gumption to stand up to the industry,proposing the introduction of a compulsory gambling debit card that would track an individual’s spending and losses and so help to disrupt money laundering and problem gambling,he was demoted and stripped of responsibility for gaming.
When the matter was discussed in a meeting with Dominello also attended by the Australian Hotels Association NSW division,ClubsNSW chief Josh Landis warned Dominello that if he forced the industry to do more to lock out problem gamblers,“it could get ugly”,theAustralian Financial Review reported in December last year.
Meanwhile,pokie turnover in NSW continues to balloon. In Greater Sydneyit hit $54 billion in 2019-20 despite the disruption of COVID-19 restrictions,with more than a third of that gambled in three local council areas with low household incomes.
What portion of that money is laundered is anyone’s guess,but we know some of it is,not just because of Stolz’s whistleblowing,but because a government reportleaked and published by theSunday Telegraph in May says so.
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The report was based on a limited seven-week investigation into money laundering at a handful of clubs called “the project” and conducted by the independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) – represented by NSW Liquor&Gaming (L&G),the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
It found evidence of money laundering activities at 178 venues between October 11 and 29 last year as the investigation was taking place,involving about $5.5 million.
“Evidence collected leaves little doubt that electronic gaming machines are being used for large-scale money laundering by organised criminal groups in NSW,” it said,noting that it believed groups linked with organised crime were involved.
Since then,the state government has boasted of its creation of the new NSW Independent Casino Commission,warning casino operators that they will not be able to hide from its vigilance.
But clubs and pubs will not be troubled by it one bit. The fierce new ICC has no oversight over their operations. Justice was never quite so blind.
Meanwhile,Stolz is spending his last months in legal combat with Clubs NSW.
“In my opinion they are trying to grind him into dust,” says Wilkie. “He should be lauded as a hero.”
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