Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Gaming Review - Anderton

18 October 2001 Media Statement

Gaming Review

Alliance leader Jim Anderton is pleased the Alliance has delivered on pre-election commitments to minimise harm from problem gambling.

A new Responsible Gambling Bill to be introduced this year will introduce electronic monitoring for pokie machines, along with strict new accountability mechanisms. New laws will aim to minimising the harm caused by gambling. Local authorities will have the power to veto new sites for gaming machines and no new casinos will be licensed.

Jim Anderton confirmed that the Alliance could move an amendment to cap the number of machines at the level existing today.

There are currently 2095 gaming machine sites in New Zealand with 20,597 machines – up by 1247 machines in the last three months alone. Each site is licensed for a maximum of eighteen machines, meaning that as the law is proposed there could be another 17,113 machines installed. Half a billion dollars will be lost on pokie machines this year.

“There is an explosion in pokies under way. New Zealand has the second highest concentration of pokies in the world and the Alliance says enough is enough. The Alliance wants to cap the number of gaming machines at the present level. That would maintain current community funding streams but wouldn’t increase problem gambling.

“Pokies are the most addictive form of gambling, responsible for more than 70% of problem gamblers. A quarter of regular gaming machine users experience gambling problems. There is a strong link between the number of pokies, the total losses on them and the level of problem gambling.”

Jim Anderton said the Alliance had worked closely with coalition colleagues on the gambling review because it is of major importance to the Alliance.

“I am pleased that the Government has developed much stronger gambling laws. The new accountability measures will ensure that gambling revenue contributes genuinely to community organisations.”

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.