Over the course of the last year, gaming companies and clubs spent a great deal of time and effort convincing politicians and the general public that poker machine reform was a bad idea – but how much money did they sink into their cause? According to a recent report, pokie reform opponents spent $16 million on lobbying efforts.
The Australian Electoral Committee shows that gaming clubs spent millions on lobbying efforts, targeted at politician groups. The lobby came in the form of hefty party donations, in order to convince politician that poker machine reform was a bad idea. According to the report the Liberals and Nationals received money from the Lions, the Australian Hotels and Hospitality Association and the Australian Hotels Association.
The Labour Party received $1.85 million from a wide range of gaming sources, as well. The report also revealed that the New South Wales Liberals were the recipient of the largest single party donation. It amount to nearly $125 000, a large sum of money from several gaming operators and club owners.