Magpie Millions raises sponsor’s concerns

DID you know Collingwood Football Club now has its own lottery?

Yep, that’s right, the Pies have launched a lottery called Magpie Millions, which offers punters the chance at a prize worth up to $2 million.

Punters can purchase tickets for $2.50 each, but their spend is capped at $20, obviously to minimise the damage and combat problem gambling, and the club says the money it raises through the lottery will be used on its community programs.

But that has not stopped some outrage creeping in, especially when it was revealed the club receives a huge sponsorship from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation – which is funded by the State Government.

The VRGF has expressed its concerns to the Pies, who VRGF boss Craig Swift told the Herald Sun that they have contact the club regarding the lottery, and that “good faith” discussions were ongoing.

“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,” Swift told the paper.

“We intend to continue ­discussing these issues with a view to ensuring that the spirit and meaning of the charter is fulfilled.”

It’s an interesting one.

On the one hand, the VRGF is on the offensive against problem gambling and we can understand why it wouldn’t want an organisation it sponsors to do anything that could encourage it.

And there is a community feeling that sporting clubs might be too involved with gambling – especially running its own lottery.

But $20 a week is not going to break the bank – unless you’re spending too much in other areas.

Provided it’s done responsibly, there’s no reason why the Magpies can’t run something like this. English Premier League clubs like Arsenal have been doing it for years and it was probably only a matter of time before an AFL club decided to capitalise.