Sports clubs in Australia are now at odds with the Salvation Army over the controversial pokie reform initiative that was spearheaded by Andrew Wilkie. Clubs across New South Wales have announced that they would barr any Salvation Army members from taking part in activities on their premises if the group continued to support the mandatory pre-commitment scheme.
The Salvation Army is one of the biggest anti-gambling groups in Australia and, naturally, supports the idea of precommitment technology. However, the group may have to reconsider its stance. Out of 1500 clubs across the area, 6 have already implemented the ban.
One such club is the St. George Motorboat Club, which will no longer allow Salvation Army members inside and has banned the group from handing out its War Cry magazine. According to officials at the club, the Salvation Army has acted against the wished of one of its biggest financial supporters and should be made aware of the consequences.
Sports clubs are opposed to pokie reform as it would prevent them from earning a large portion of their funding. These same sports clubs, in turn, fund charities like the Salvation Army. If charties and other welfare groups support pokie reform, they are essentially alienating the sports clubs that provide them with funding.