23 July 2009 MEDIA RELEASE

Mayor Parker presents pokie petition to keep sinking lid

Mayor Bob Parker today presented a petition to the Christchurch City Council to keep the “sinking lid” pokie venue policy.

The current “sinking lid” moratorium was created in 2004 and reconfirmed in 2006 after a public campaign generated over 2000 submissions in favour of the “sinking lid” moratorium.

The petition, signed by 525 people, was collected by the Problem Gambling Foundation and Oasis Salvation Army on one stall over the course of two days.

“The community still feels very strongly about minimising the harm caused by pokie machines. We know there is a lot of support in the community to reduce the number of pokie venues,” The Problem Gambling Foundation Southern Area Director, Laurie Siegel-Woodward said.

“We know that 1 In 4 who gambles on pokies regularly will develop a problem and we know that pokies are located in our poorest communities. We are proud that our city leaders have taken a stance on this issue and encourage them to maintain the current policy,” The Salvation Army National Manager Addictions and Supportive Accommodation Services, Major Lynette Hutson said.

The Council’s social and economic impact assessment suggests that harm from problem gambling can include poor parenting, family violence, other crime, and suicide. These harms can affect between 7 and 17 people to some degree in addition to the problem gambler themselves.

“Not only do pokies harm individuals and families, but they are a major cause of crime and fraud and cost our economy in terms of lost business productivity and lost jobs,” Laurie Siegel-Woodward said.

ENDS

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