Gambling shame
Fairfield Champion, 26 September 2007
By Kate Sullivan

LOCAL clubs and pubs have applied for more poker machines while little is being done to tackle the area's gambling problems.

Canley Heights RSL recently applied to NSW Gaming and Racing for 56 more poker machines.

This area has the highest number of poker machines in greater Sydney with 3894 - only behind the city centre, which includes the Star City casino, with 5237.

The club's application is to be decided by the department.

Fairfield Council is permitted to say only if it approves or opposes.

The council recently postponed a summit on gaming problems in its area until 2008-09, after a review of the current gambling policy.

Cr Thang Ngo said he was disgusted the summit would not be held to deal with the rise of "pokie palaces".

"Gambling is the worst form of social evil within our local government area," he said. "It is the most evil form of regressive taxation.

"There is no point in waiting one or two years when the problem is here now. There is a call across the state for something to be done and we are the ones suffering."

Cr Dennis Huynh, who proposed the gambling summit months ago, said he was happy to wait until after the gambling policy review.

He said the view of the council was not to encourage more gambling machines.

Fairfield , long associated with problem gambling, has 20.7 poker machines for every 1000 people.

The Salvation Army set up the Sydney Problem Gambling Centre in 2006 in Barbara Street , Fairfield .

Spokesman Pat Daley said the problem was increasing and he supported a summit whether held by the State Government or locally.