Insight for Sunday 8 August 2010

A growing number of investigations are taking place into the country's gaming trusts which are responsible for distributing millions of dollars of pokie money every year to community groups.

The Serious Fraud Office is prosecuting cases totalling almost two million dollars and Government officials have unearthed complex webs of deception and a raft of inflated expenses.

Critics say the system is flawed and that community groups and charities are losing out.

Gill Bonnett looks at whether the bad apples can be thrown out or whether the system needs a radical overhaul.

Photo: A row of pokie machines. Source, William Pickard, Stock xchng