Churches call for action on betting CHURCH leaders have used Easter to call on the NSW government to launch an inquiry into the social impacts of gambling. In a statement last night, the NSW Council of Churches urged politicians not to back any laws that would boost the availability of gaming until an inquiry had been held into the issue. The council's president, the Reverend Ross Clifford, said an inquiry was needed due to the ongoing debate about a second Sydney casino, and concerns over poker machines and sports betting. He said the community would need to have "adequate opportunity to respond to any recommendations (the inquiry) might propose." The call was not about trying to impose "wowser values," Dr Clifford said. "It's about effective harm minimisation and consumer protection strategies," he said. No one who is genuinely concerned about the devastating impact of problem gambling on individuals and communities in NSW wants to wait for a federal inquiry to report on federal issues. He said it was an issue on which NSW needed to take the lead.