GAMBLING…a winning feeling or a vicious trap???

INTRODUCTION

Going back to the mid ‘70’s, whether you loved them or hated them, the Swedish pop group ABBA put out numerous hit singles. One of the most well known of these was the song ‘Money, Money, Money’. Basically, the song was saying that it’s money that gets you somewhere in life…or does it?

Regularly we see advertisements on TV, sponsored by the government, showing people having great fun winning money through lotteries and casino’s. If we were to believe the adds, life isn’t quite as fun if you don’t go to the casino, or spend up on the races, or take out the Lotto ticket at your nearest newsagent.

Do people really have more fun gambling, or is there a more sinister outcome? Why do governments support and promote gambling? And what effects does gambling have on the individual and their families?

Here are some Australian statistics relating to the Gambling Industry.

(These figures taken from Mike Safe, "Counting the Cost", The Australian Magazine, 22-23 November 1997, p.13)

Australia’s 14 casino’s ‘95-’96 income was $1881 million, up 36% in a year. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, cited by Tim Colebatch, "Australia’s 14 casino’s hit the jackpot as income soars 36%," The Age, 7 June 1997, p.4)

In ‘95-’96, net gambling loses were $9.4 billion, about 2% of gross domestic product. (Niki Savva, "Gambling loses $9.4 billion: PM," The Age, 3 March 1997, p.1)

For all state governments in the four years to ‘95-’96, gambling tax revenue jumped by 63% or nearly double the increase in other state tax revenue of 32%. (Ed Shann, "Tax the key to states’ gambling push", The Herald Sun, 8 March, 1997, p.72).

In ‘95-’96 casino’s alone netted the states and territories $357 million (Judy Hughes, "Punters bolster coffers of cash-strapped states," The Australian, 28 January 1997, p.4).

Some $2 billion in ‘black money’ is being laundered through Australian casino’s - a quarter of it in Victoria. (Ray Reagan, President of the National Tax and Accountants Association, cited in Greg Thorn, "Casino tax scam claim," The Herald Sun, 31 January 1997, p.16)

Up to 60% of problem gamblers commit crimes to support their habit, with 20% of those ending up before the courts (Greg Thorn, "Child Gambling Fear," The Herald Sun, 3 October 1997, p.16)

Most people who go on to develop gambling problems begin gambling between the ages of 8 and 13. (Rob Wootton of the Victoria Council on Problem Gambling, cited in Greg Thorn, "Child Gambling Fear," The Herald Sun, 3 October 1997, p.16)

52% of regular casino goers in Victoria are unemployed (AAP, "Coroner to check gaming suicides," The Age, 10 September 1997, p.1).

In Victoria during ‘95-’96 gambling expenditure (loses) was $2.5 billion. In ‘91-’92 it was $904.2 million. (Mike Safe, "Counting the Cost," The Australian Magazine, 22-23 November 1997, p.19). Of this $2.5 billion, more than half was taken from housekeeping budgets (AAP, "Coroner to check gaming suicides," The Age, 10 September 1997, p.1).

In Victoria, in the past 4 years, the number of desperate gamblers and their families approaching the Salvation Army for help has soared nearly 400% (Greg Thorn, "Gambling fall-out swamps Salvos, The Herald Sun23 July 1997, p.21).

Looking through these figures, it doesn’t seem as though those glamorous adds of celebration on TV really reflect the truth of what is happening.

Recently, in the December ‘97 edition of the Australian Readers Digest an article was written on the ‘Governments’ gambling addiction’. In the March issue, which we just received, the Readers Digest printed some reader feedback to the article. Here are some examples:

A single mother from Sydney wrote: "I am a gambler, addicted to poker machines. You are so right when you say that the cost to ordinary Australians is incalculable." The woman went on to say that when she had lost all her money she hated herself for being weak but could not break the habit. As her addiction worsened, she became isolated from family and friends.

A wife of a gambler from Wagga in NSW wrote, "Gambling has robbed my family of a normal existence, the lies, deceit, lack of self-esteem, stealing, lack of responsibility for the family, depression and suicidal talk is all a direct result."

Sadly, and correctly, a person wrote, "everywhere you go, gambling has a presence, from local churches with their fundraising bingo sessions, to lotteries, the endless run of raffles from numerous organisations and betting on horse racing."

The fact is, gambling, in our society today, is destroying the very fabric of life. Many people are declaring themselves bankrupt due to taking on heavy debts as a direct result of gambling. Families suffer due to Mum or Dad wasting the family income on the quick bet down at the TAB or the pub. Sadly, these poor and destructive habits are passed on to the children, and the governments are not helping by sponsoring the advertising of gambling in order that their own coffers are filled to the top.

The old adage of "Get that winning feeling" is false and deceptive. The fact is, there are many more people suffering due to the prevalence of gambling in Australia, then there are of those laughing all the way to the bank.

Let me share with you a story that was in The Sunday Mail on March 16, 1997.

Peter Hinterdorfer was 34 and lived on debt. He struggled to support his wife and two year old son. He was an accountant for the Port of Brisbane Corporation. Peter achieved one of the state’s biggest gambling-related heists by stealing $4.5 million from his employer.

His background is that he had good social skills, was well liked, passed his senior studies with a TE score of 880 which was regarded as below his best.

It was his father who started Peter on the pathway to gambling. In 1977 when in grade 10 he began to wage bets-in-theory with his school mates. Two years later, with his fathers help, he won $400 in a treble bet at the races - his first gambling high.

Peter’s mistake, like so many gamblers, was that he kidded himself that all would turn out for him if he gambled more.

In October 1995 he came under pressure to support his wife and son, so he took out a $50,000 loan from the National Australia Bank. He also borrowed $10,000 from his grandmother. With this money he bought speculative shares which within 4 months had dropped in value to $25,000. To add to his woes, the bank wanted its money back.

Hinterdorfer’s job with the Port of Brisbane Corporation was that of an investment officer. Due to his work, he discovered a loop hole in the corporation’s internal audit system which he found he could exploit. Subsequently, he drew up a voucher for 4.5 million to be invested with the ANZ bank for 90 days with the name of his own securities trust account as the title. The money was now his.

His plan was to invest the money for the 90 days, making enough to clear his debts and make a profit. His scheme became unglued as the 90 days came to a close because rather than making a profit a loss was actually recorded.

His demise did not end there though. He decided to further gamble his way out of the loss which ended in being one of Queensland’s most expensive and destructive gambling binges lasting only a month.

It started by gambling $250,000 in the 1996 Melbourne Cup carnival. He then flew to Las Vegas, then to Hong Kong where he lost $1.7 million.

Soon after this he was arrested when discovered by one of his work mates.

At the time the article was written, Hinterdorfer commenced serving 10 years in the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre waiting for classification.

Rather than me describing the effects on family, friends, and himself, I want to read his own statement to the court at his trial.

He said:

The bottom line is that gambling destroys people.

Statistics show that gambling start at childhood. What example are you giving your children?

Why do people gamble? For many reasons.

But is this the right way to find answers. If what we have just looked at carries any weight, it would seem that this pathway carries only further destruction.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 ,

When we base our lives on the foundations of Jesus Christ, listening to his guidance and leading, then the burden is lifted from our shoulders. This doesn’t mean that life is easier, it means that we have God on our side who will nurture us through the difficulties and struggles of life.

Listen to what Jesus has to say in the beatitudes.

Matthew 5:3-12

Do we want to search after material gain in life, which may lead us to a sizeable bank account, but more realistically will lead to further pain and hardship? OR Do we want to obey God, follow His leading in life, and know that we will be able to look back on life knowing our lives have been fruitful in that we have allowed the Lord to lead us and use us to reach out to others?

In the end the facts are these:

1. The road to self serving and material gain will not lead us God in the end. At the end of our lives we will be left with nothing because wealth cannot follow us to the grave.

2. The road to letting God in Jesus Christ take control of our lives and lead us to serving Him and others reaps a fruitful life, not only in this lifetime, but for all of eternity.

My encouragement and message this evening is a simple one:

Let go and let God.

Let God be Lord of your life, don’t let dreams of wealth be lord of your life. One pathway provides peace and fulfilment while the other only leads to pain and suffering for yourself and others around you.

By Scott Douglas, Burdekin Baptist Church, 27^th February 1998