Collingwood lauded for “very significant” pokies exit

Collingwood has officially sold all its pokies licences.

The Magpies sold its entire gaming operation to the Melbourne Racing Club, as agreed earlier in the year.

Monash University’s Charles Livingstone told Nick McCallum it’s “very significant” for prominent groups to withdraw from pokies.

“Pokies are legitimated, in a way, by high-profile organisations like footy clubs,” Dr Livingstone said.

“When a high-profile outfit like Collingwood gets out of the pokies, it’s a really good thing.”

Dr Livingstone said Australians lose over $3 billion per year on pokies.

“It’s probably one of the biggest causes of harm in our community these days,” he said.

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Photo: James Ross / AAP