PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM GAMBLING HARM
IMPACT PARTNER: ALLIANCE FOR GAMBLING REFORM
Former Mayor of the City of Whittlesea, Kris Pavlidis, joined the Alliance for Gambling Reform’s ‘Pokies Play You’ campaign in 2018. Credit: Julian Meehan.
Did you know that 20% of the world’s poker machines are in Australia?
The Alliance for Gambling Reform works nationally to show how gambling destroys lives. The Alliance is a coalition of over 60 groups and was first supported by the Impact Fund in 2017. They work with people with lived experience of losing their families and livelihoods to gambling addiction to show that the gambling industry is profiting from the pain and suffering of thousands of Australians.
“We knew these stories were key to making this into a public health issue, not a matter of individual shame, and the Impact Fund community understood our vision from the beginning,” says Tony Mohr, Executive Director of the Alliance from 2016 to 2020.
“Impact Funders are willing to back risky ideas and uncertain paths to advance social change”
Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and nine AFL clubs all made the decision to divest their family-friendly brands from pokies after the Alliance revealed that their investments were fuelling a public health crisis.
Tony says the ongoing relationship with the Impact Fund and ACF has been invaluable.
“ACF has not only connected us with supportive donors; the team’s work has helped us map the gambling landscape and refine our campaign.
“What the relationship demonstrates is that Impact Funders are willing to back risky ideas and uncertain paths to advance social change,” says Tony. “That’s an important role I continue to see the Impact Fund play.”