Did You Just Double-Dip, Mr Iemma?

<http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2006/06/01/did-you-just-double-dip-mr-iemma/>

Thursday, 1st June 2006

Did You Just Double-Dip, Mr Iemma?

The NSW Government has just raised the amount of money they can
double-dip from the pockets of problem gamblers in one sitting from
$1000 to $2000.

Currently poker machine payouts over $1000 are paid out by cheque not
cash. The NSW Government has just lifted the bar to $2000 through a
subtle gazettal notice. 

“When a gambler takes a prize home by cheque it is much more likely
that money is going to go towards paying for the im****tant things –
bread, milk, rent – something like that,” Dr Moyes said today.
“Instead you will now find problem gamblers squandering up to
thousands of dollars in winnings and having nothing to show for it.”

“The operators and the NSW Government are double-dipping into the
pockets of problem gamblers and they don’t seem to care,” said Dr
Moyes. 

“This Government has washed its hands of problem gamblers. They have
time and time again released themselves from their responsibility to
help them with their addiction,” Dr Moyes said.

“This is just an elaborate and greedy ploy for the operators and the
Government to collude in not just stacking the odds against gamblers
but even keeping the money they occasionally pay out to them. From
their point of view its win-win.” 

“It is loss-loss for problem gamblers. They had no proponents who were
invited to take part in the talks between Clubs NSW and the Government
in order to speak on their behalf. They were just interested in
carving up the pie between themselves.” 
Petzl
--
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
          While God is marching on. 

Julia Ward Howe