A sponsor as raised concerns with Collingwood over its lottery. Picture: Getty Images
A RESPONSIBLE gambling body that sponsors Collingwood has raised concerns about the club’s new $ 2 million weekly lottery.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, one of Collingwood’s major partners, confirmed it was in talks with club chiefs about the Magpie Millions lotto game.
Collingwood and eight other AFL clubs have six-figure sponsorship deals with the VRGF and in return have signed a charter pledging to help minimise the harm of gambling and young people’s exposure to it.
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Magpie Millions is a lottery promoted through the club’s website. Tickets are $ 2.50 and capped at $ 20 a week for punters 18 and over.
VRGF boss Craig Swift told the Herald Sun: “The foundation was made aware of the Collingwood Football Club’s plans to develop a lottery product during the 2016 season.
“Recently, the foundation has been fully briefed on the club’s plans and has frankly raised its concerns in the context of the conditions of the responsible gambling charter.
“We intend to continue discussing these issues … with a view to ensuring that the spirit and meaning of the charter is fulfilled.”
Magpie Millions: Collingwood’s new $ 2 million lottery.Source:Supplied
“The foundation evaluates the effectiveness of all of its programs on a periodic basis and the sporting clubs’ partnership program will be reviewed in a timely manner to ensure its objectives are met,” Swift said.
In a further statement sent to the Herald Sun, Swift added: “We have been contacted by Collingwood Football Club in relation to the statement we issued.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, I want to make it clear the foundation values its partnership with the club and has been discussing in good faith issues related to the lottery product. These discussions are ongoing.”
A Pies spokesman said the relationship with the foundation was not under threat.
“Collingwood has consulted the VRGF on this and other initiatives and, with guidance from the VRGF, carefully tailored Magpie Millions to meet the shared ideal of promoting responsible gambling,” he said.
“This collaborative relationship is something Collingwood looks forward to continuing.”
Collingwood says all profits are being directed to its community projects and future philanthropic plans.
But Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesman Tim Costello said the arrangement was farcical.
“Collingwood must hand the (sponsorship) money back to the Victorian taxpayers,” he said.
“Collingwood should never have been given the money. The club was clearly never serious about protecting people from gambling exploitation.
“This lottery is yet another example of the depths to which so many footy clubs will sink.”
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING CHARTER
“By signing this charter, we support separating ‘the game’ from gambling. We will ensure our club is a safe and healthy environment in relation to gambling.
As a club, we understand the important role we play in the community in encouraging healthy lifestyles.
We acknowledge that we have a responsibility to minimise any potential harm from gambling.
We accept a shared responsibility for generating awareness of the risks associated with gambling and encouraging the community to love the game, not the odds.
We are committed to minimising the exposure of young people to gambling activities and to gambling promotion.”
Originally published as Sponsor at odds with $ 2m Pies lotto
