Recently, many community organizations have decided to denounce any connections to the gambling market by refusing to accept pokie grants. The Salvation Army is one such group, and the organization is being criticized for its decision to pass on funding provided by poker machine revenue. The Salvation Army first refused gambling revenue in 2008.
Since then, the organization has not accepted funding from pokie grants or anything other funding that is derived from gambling profits. The group decided to go this route because it does not support gambling and offers programs to help counsel problem gamblers, and it would seem hypocritical to accept funding from pokie or casino operators.
'With a significant number of impoverished and very distressed people coming to us and citing gambling as a major cause of their situation, it would be hypocritical and wrong to accept money from an activity that is hurting our clients,'' says Pam Waugh, National Secretary for the Salvation Army.
While it is admirable that the Salvation Army would take a stance against gambling in such a way, members of the community are now criticizing the organization for doing so. Poverty rates are climbing, and the Salvation Army could certainly benefit from additional funding – even if it is provided by the gambling market.
Litea Ah Hoi, chairwoman for the Mana Community Grants Foundation, states that plenty of community organizations accept money from poker machine grants. She asks whether taking the moral high-ground is worth letting children go hungry – especially when food banks are experiencing a shortage. “Goodness knows they are doing many good things, but plenty of other religious societies and churches accept our money,” says Ms Ah Hoi.
It seems unlikely that the Salvation Army will change its stance based on this criticism. However, it is interesting to note that the organization could help more people by accepting pokie funding.
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