Tina Samardzija, the mayor of the City of Monash, is encouraging other councils to take similar actions and to protect young people from being exposed to gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- The city of Monash became one of the first in Australia to ban all forms of betting advertising at community sports events<\/strong>. The measure was announced by Tina Samardzija<\/strong>, the mayor of the city, but it quickly received strong criticism from the clubs who warned that the measure could harm them financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Samardzija was even tougher, saying that other cities should take similar measures <\/strong>to prevent gambling harm and to protect young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also told The Guardian: \u201cIn my view, there is nothing more of a local government issue than kids going to play sport at their local clubs and being exposed to a message that gambling is normal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The City of Monash estimates that local poker machines raised AU$84.9m in the 2021-22 financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mulgrave Country Club<\/strong> is one of the largest gaming establishments in the region, with a gaming revenue of AU$7.1m in the last fiscal year. It sponsors dozens of local sports clubs, offering youth soccer, netball, baseball, squash, cricket and softball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter Delaney<\/strong>, the venue’s president, said: \u201cWe are a nonprofit and only give away our money to local community groups and sporting clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMulgrave Country Club has been contacted by numerous community sporting clubs who are concerned about the annual funding they receive from us may cease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew Lloyd<\/strong>, the president of the Community Clubs Victoria also questioned Samardzija’s decision and stated: \u201cThis is being politicized unfairly and unfairly. What this is doing is actually dividing people and it’s not good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Council should be leading by example and helping with things, not actually trying to divide people and impose things on them that are really draconian.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n