Those who think the “younger generation” only wants to party and gamble are wrong. Young Australian military veterans in the Returned and Services League (RSL) are lobbying for changes to the RSL clubs and, specifically, want to see the removal of electronic poker machines. The goal is to provide better support to vets and to remove the temptation the machines offer.

In Victoria, there are around 280 clubs of the RSL. Of these, 52 offer poker machines, but former Army officer David Petersen is pushing for their removal. He is also leading a campaign that would provide greater welfare payments to vets and stricter control of gambling machines in vet-related facilities.

The 32-year-old Army vet is the president of the Camberwell club – no machines allowed. He doesn’t believe the RSL needs to be involved in the gambling industry in any form, including by offering the machines and argues that they have never generated enough revenue for the organization to warrant their use.

The 52 RSL clubs received revenue of around US$182.9 million in 2017. Of this, only $1.8 million was profit. Only 4% of the revenue was directed to vet welfare and community programs.