A Vote for Accountability
A Step Towards Change
Essendon Football Club members will be invited to vote on a member-led amendment to the Club’s constitution, calling on the club to recognise the harm caused by pokies as a step towards planning a path away from them.
The Resolution
“That for the purposes of section 136(1)(b) and 136(2) of the Corporations Act:
That the Constitution of the Essendon Football Club is altered so that, after Clause 31, the following is inserted:
‘31A. Gambling Regulation Act
(1) If the Club holds a venue operator’s licence under the Gambling Regulation Act at any time during a particular year, then the Directors’ report for that financial year published by the Club relating to that year (whether in whole or in part) shall include a statement that acknowledges:
(a) that Electronic Gaming Machines cause social harm; and
(b) that the Club, as the holder of a venue operator’s licence, is contributing to that harm.
(2) This clause 31A applies subject to the Corporations Act and other relevant laws and otherwise notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution.’”
If successful, this resolution would require the Club to include a statement in their annual report, acknowledging that pokies cause social harm and that Essendon, as a pokies operator, contributes to that harm.
That’s the extent of the change.
Members' Statement
This resolution has arisen from growing concern amongst Essendon Football Club members toward continued reliance on revenue generated by Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs).
Since 2006, over $235 million has been lost on EGMs at the two venues run by Essendon Football Club, the Windy Hill Venue in Essendon and the Melton Country Club. Revenue made by Essendon Football Club from player losses comes with risk of social harm. EGMs are addictive by design and a leading cause of problem gambling in Australia.
Harms from EGMs and problem gambling are wide ranging:
- At least 184 suicides in Victoria were directly related to problem gambling between 2009-2016, and a further 17 suicides occurred among ‘affected others’
- An average of six others (e.g., partners, children) are negatively impacted for each problem gambler in Australia
- An up to 30% increase in domestic violence assaults in postcodes with a high density of EGMs
Part (a) of the proposed change will make Essendon Football Club publicly acknowledge this harm occurs.
Part (b) of the proposed change will make Essendon Football Club publicly acknowledge their potential contribution to harms caused by EGMs and problem gambling.
The Victorian Gaming & Casino Control Commission’s 2023 Position on Gambling Harm asserts that operators of EGMs “alone choose to provide gambling services which cause harm.” As such, it is important for the Essendon Football Club to acknowledge their role in contributing to these harms.
We understand non-football income streams are vital to football clubs and this acknowledgement would not obligate the Essendon Football Club to stop earning revenue from EGMs. Instead, it ensures that the Club’s ongoing decision to operate EGMs is made with full awareness, and ownership, of the potential harms.
By first recognising the harm that EGMs cause, and then recognising that the decision to contribute to that harm is the club’s choice alone, we hope that these proposed changes will empower the club to act to find a path away from pokies.
We recommend, and hope, that you will vote in favour of this resolution.
Voting Information
Who can vote
If you’re 18 or older and have an Essendon membership for the 2024 AFL or AFLW season, then chances are you’re eligible to vote. This includes AFL and MCC members with Essendon club support add-ons.
You will likely need your membership number, also referred to as your Account ID, when voting.
Essendon’s membership page states: Your Member Number or Account ID is a 7-digit number that starts with either 1, 2, 3 or 4. It can be found on your membership card, as well as on all correspondence from the Club.
How to vote
While we don’t know when the voting will open, it is likely to be aligned with the board member elections – this is normally a two week period beginning in late November or Early December.
The vote will be hold electronically, members can expect to an email with a link to vote once voting opens, although this email may come from a sender such as CorpVote Voting Services, who run the elections for Essendon, rather than from the club itself.
This change does not force Essendon to end their pokies businesses, so there will be no loss of income to the club if it passes.
All decision-making powers regarding the club’s gaming venues and alternative revenue streams would remain with the club. Yet this is a rare chance to put Essendon on a path towards being pokies free.
By binding the club to acknowledge where this revenue is coming from, and that it is associated with significant social harms, we hope that they will be empowered to find new ways of being financially viable that do not cause such damage to the community.
If you’re concerned about the harm caused by pokies but have been worried about how Essendon will replace the revenue, then this is a resolution you can get behind.
Who's Behind This?
This resolution was instigated by No Pokies at Essendon (NoPE), a grassroots group of Essendon fans who have been advocating since early 2023 for Essendon to commit to ending their pokies business.
Over 100 passionate Essendon members joined with us to co-sponsor this resolution, ensuring it met the requirements to be put to a vote at Essendon’s AGM.