WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Like all non-casino gaming trusts, The Lion Foundation operates gaming machines solely for the purpose of raising money to distribute to the community, for authorised purposes.

Firstly, 91% of the money put in a gaming machine is returned to the player. That is much higher than any other form of gambling in New Zealand.

39% of the net revenue from The Lion Foundation gaming venues goes back to the community. Last year, that equated to over $37 million for thousands of community groups right around New Zealand.

Before we can return a single dollar to the community, we are required to give the Government 25% for gambling duty and compliance costs.  This is in addition to paying nearly $12 million in GST last year.

We then have gaming machine costs of 14% and a further 6% in our own administration costs. The venues in your community are paid 16% as a rental for the gaming rooms.

We'd love to give back more. However, our ability to commit more funding to the community is not limited by our fund-raising capability, but by the restrictions of Government legislation.

The Lion Foundation does not profit financially. New Zealand does. We profit by making a difference.