Promised review of concerns about NSW pokies grants results in a ‘brief update’ by regulator

Ncoss found the ClubsGrants scheme lacked transparency and adequate oversight, with clubs often giving themselves ‘a financial or other advantage’. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

The New South Wales gaming regulator conducted only a “brief update” of a multimillion-dollar grants scheme funded by poker machine profits, despite a peak welfare agency pulling out of the program due to concerns it lacked any proper oversight or accountability.

Last year the NSW Council for Social Service (Ncoss) announced it was ending its 24-year involvement in the ClubGrants scheme, after a review found clubs regularly ignored the recommendations of local advisory groups and sometimes viewed the grants as their money “to spend as they see fit”.