Lotto would be futile—gamblers

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 41

Lotto would be futile—gamblers

PA Wellington The numbers game, Lotto, would be an "absolutely futile activity” with little benefit to anyone if it were introduced in New Zealand, according to Gamblers Anonymous. Mr Bernard Kerr, a psychologist, said the game would have little effect on the number of compulsive gamblers but he strongly opposed its introduction. A Government decision is expected on the game within two weeks.

Mr Kerr said the only people who might benefit would be the organisers of the game, who might get some pleasure from saying that they had done something successful. He said it might employ more people, but mainly in the

clerical field, where workers were scarce anyway.

Mr Kerr said the public should not be “bribed” by assertions that the game would increase funding for sport and other activities. “Sport is not a charity — it is a service to those who are engaged in it Physical activity is a necessity of human life — there is no need for it to be subsidised,” he said. • “One of the things wrong with Lotto is that it symbolises official Government approval of a concept that people should desire to obtain wealth without having to work for it. That is a human weakness most of. us have but Governments should not encourage it.” 1