Dominello vs ClubsNSW: The Power Struggle Over Australia's Gambling Industry
NSW Government Official Criticizes ClubsNSW for Obstructing Poker Machine Regulation Amendments
In a scathing interview with ABC's Four Corners, senior Liberal Minister Victor Dominello likened ClubsNSW to the "gun lobby of Australia's gambling industry," accusing the powerful lobby group of wielding undue influence and forcing him out of his gaming portfolio.
With over 1,000 registered clubs under its belt, ClubsNSW owns and operates more than 64,000 poker machines across New South Wales. This influential lobby group has a history of blocking gambling reforms, and their latest battle is over the mandatory introduction of cashless gambling for poker machines — a central issue in the NSW election.
Dominello first proposed the introduction of a mandatory cashless gambling card for poker machines in 2020, aimed at combating problem gambling. However, ClubsNSW vehemently opposed the reform, claiming it would cost 9,000 jobs and slash clubs' revenue by up to 30%. The club's strident stance resonated with Dominello's coalition colleagues, the Nationals, who feared the reforms would cripple rural clubs. Things came to a head when Dominello declined to attend an awards dinner hosted by ClubsNSW, leading to abusive texts from Nationals leader John Barilaro.
The Lobby Group's Iron Grip on NSW Government
According to Dominello, ClubsNSW boasts an excessive level of confidence in its influence over New South Wales politics. The group takes pride in its past successes, such as thwarting poker machine reforms proposed by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard ten years ago. Dominello was eventually stripped of his gaming portfolio by Premier Dominic Perrottet, and the portfolio was handed over to the Nationals.
The club's sway over governments has been questioned for years, with memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed between the lobby group and incoming coalition governments over the past decade. These MoUs outline detailed pledges about the regulatory environment clubs will operate in over the subsequent four years, with no increases to poker machine tax rates.
Time for an Inquiry?
As the public pressure mounts, calls for an inquiry into ClubsNSW's influence on NSW governments are growing louder. The questionable tactics employed by ClubsNSW, such as their recent private prosecution for contempt of court in NSW, have raised concerns about their unconventional methods and potential corruption.
Dominello hopes the next term of government will address the issue for the sake of democracy, acknowledging the erosion of faith in democracy due to the succession of agreements struck by ClubsNSW with governments over the years. In order to fully understand the extent of ClubsNSW's influence, further research into NSW parliamentary records, integrity commission reports, or media investigations is needed.
- Victor Dominello, a senior Liberal Minister, criticized ClubsNSW, referring to them as the "gun lobby of Australia's gambling industry," accusing them of exerting undue influence and forcing him out of his gaming portfolio.
- ClubsNSW, with over 1,000 registered clubs and 64,000 poker machines across New South Wales, has a history of opposing gambling reforms, including the mandatory introduction of cashless gambling for poker machines.
- In politics, ClubsNSW wields significant power, demonstrated by their influence over New South Wales policy and legislation, as evident from memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with coalition governments.
- The gambling trends and policies in NSW have been heavily influenced by ClubsNSW, with concerns raised about their unconventional methods and potential corruption, as illustrated by their recent private prosecution for contempt of court.
- The gambling industry, Crime and Justice, and Politics sections of General News have featured growing calls for an inquiry into ClubsNSW's influence on NSW governments, due to concerns about their manipulation of policy and legislation in the gambling-trends sphere.
- As the public pressure increases, it is essential for the upcoming government term to address ClubsNSW's influence on NSW governments for the sake of democracy, ensuring transparency and integrity in the Casino-and-Gambling sector.
