Jump to full article: Sydney Morning Herald (au), 2008-04-07
Author: RoyMasters
Intro: While any measures to cut smoking will save the community more than any losses of grants to amateur clubs, a rise in poker machine tax two months after the smoking ban has come as a double whammy.
The combined effects of the downturn in poker machine takings from the smokers and the increase in tax on gambling revenue from September 1 have seriously eroded funds to community projects.
The chairman of Clubs NSW, Peter Newell, says: "Most clubs have been outlaying 70 per cent above the statutory CDSE requirement, but there has been a significant tightening of the belt.
"The discretionary extra spend is evaporating."
Grants from Sydney leagues clubs to their NRL clubs will inevitably decline, affecting their competitiveness against Queensland teams, Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors.
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