New Zealand’s Ōtorohanga District’s Council is seeking to change its “sinking lid” gaming policy, but faces opposition by the Problem Gambling Foundation and Waikato District Health Board.
The board voted to make the change last October during the government’s review of gaming policy that is required every three years. They changed the “controlled increase in venues” policy which lets the council vet new proposals case by case. It would allow the number of gaming machines to increase.
Problem Gambling Foundation spokesman Andree Froude called this “one of the worst policy proposals,” she had heard of adding, “it completely contravenes the Gambling Act because what the council are wanting to do is increase the growth of gambling, which completely goes against the spirit of the Act.”
The district has 23 slot machines, which in New Zealand are called “pokies.” They are at the Ōtorohanga Club and Kawhia Hotel. The trust operating the machines paid $100,000 to the district in 2019.
The District Health Board also opposes the change and has promised to testify at the hearing of the matter. It says that Maori and Pacific people and groups are more vulnerable to gambling addiction.
