Equestrian Sports NZ is one of 50 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs) that have united as part of a ‘collective sport voice’ to submit their concerns over a draft Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill, which will introduce major risks for future funding of community sport.
The OCG Bill will empower the Government to auction off 15 licences for overseas operators to offer online casino gambling to New Zealanders. The Government will take all profits from the auction, a 12% casino license duty, and GST. A 1.24% levy will go to problem gambling. The licenced operators will have no obligation to provide community funding.
For the last 50 years or so, all political parties have honoured the principle that, if gambling in NZ is to remain legal, a share of gambling revenues must go to communities including community sport. That is why the pokie trusts are required to give 40% of their annual revenues to communities, and why both Lotto and the TAB have similar obligations.
But according to NSOs, global trends suggest that online gambling will eat into and eventually replace pokie machine gaming altogether. If that happens, a vital current source of funding for community sport disappears, without any there being replacement.
Therefore, sports organisations including ESNZ are encouraging communities to voice their concerns to the Government using the public submission process that is to close on 17 August, as well as directly to government Ministers and local MPs.
Have You or Your Equestrian Group Benefitted from a Gaming Grant Lately?
ESNZ CEO Julian Bowden is calling on members and equestrian groups to act before the deadline.
“As CEO of ESNZ, I represent one of 50 national sports organisations who are deeply worried about the future community funding of our sport. This Bill is being presented in an environment where sports organisations are battling to stay afloat. The costs of running are steadily increasing due to the effects of inflation. Sponsorship money is scarce. Membership numbers are tough to maintain. Local government support is declining,” says Julian.
“Therefore, I ask for your support. We will be putting together a submission on behalf of ESNZ. We encourage individuals and/or sports groups and clubs to do the same before Sunday 17 August.”
How to Make a Submission
Sports organisations are sharing a package that will make it easier for you to make a submission. It will only take 30-40 minutes to prepare and submit.
Parliament Link button:
and follow the steps to either:
- send the Select Committee your own letter (download the sample Submission Template Appendix 1), or
- use Parliament’s online form to make your comments (and copy and paste Appendix 1 content)
See How to Submit if you get stuck.
Everyone has a right to appear in front of the Committee (only five minutes, in person or by video) which can treble the impact of a submission.
The deadline is Sunday 17 August.