Highest spend in eight years
A sharp increase in pokies play in New Zealand has law enforcement on the hunt for possible money laundering, local media reports.
The Department of International Affairs noted that New Zealanders spent $223.6 million in non-casino gaming machines in the fourth quarter of 2016, for the highest number since the same period in 2008. And spend for the year reached $858.1 million, up 3.6 percent over 2015, the largest annual spend since 2011, reported the Asia Gaming Brief. At the same time, the number of gaming machines fell 11 percent from 2011.
“It’s a bit of a surprise. One would logically say if you reduce the number of machines the uptake will be down,” observed Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne.
“Participation is down and spend is up, and spend correlates with harm,” said Paula Snowden, chief executive of the Problem Gambling Foundation. “So it’s something the government needs to look into very seriously.”
