This month, it was announced that the Victorian government asked former local pokie operators TabCorp and Tatts Group to pay a total of $80 million for a Health Benefit levy. The two operators were outraged, and threatened legal action. Now, TabCorp has finally decided to move forward with its plans of taking the Victorian government…
Category Archives: Law & Society
Kiwis Continue to Push for Sinking Lid Policy
In New Zealand, residents continue to push for a sinking lid policy in Auckland. This week, it was announced that Sky City Auckland would be permitted to install 230 new poker machines, but local residents are not impressed with this development. A recent poll showed that the majority of Auckland residents are against adding new…
Sky City Convention Centre Deal Finalized
After months of negotiation, Sky City and the New Zealand government have come to an agreement on their convention centre deal. The casino operator will build the $402 million venue in return for 230 poker machines and an extension of its gambling license. The deal has come under fire many times, and there was doubt…
Authorities Appeal Discharge of Pokie-Playing Mom
Last year, SkyCity Auckland was involved in a controversial scandal that involved two parents leaving their five young children locked in a van while they played pokies. The father was convicted while the mother was discharged, but new developments could result in her also spending time in jail. In the Auckland District court, the woman’s…
Pub Owner’s Pokie Gamble Flops
Bernie Plummer, proprietor of the Yarram’s Commercial Hotel, has taken a gamble on poker machines that has failed to pay off. After purchasing 10 new pokie machines without the permission of local gaming officials, he has ended up with a lot of wasted money and some sore feelings. Plummer’s original plan was to make his…
Pokie Operators Disappointed with $85 Million Levy
This week, the Victorian government has informed Tatts Group and TabCorp of a new levy that they will be required to pay. The two groups recently had their pokie duopoly disbanded, but the Victorian government still feels as though Tatts Group and TabCorp owe the community. The companies are required to pay a total of…
Former All Black Jailed for Pokie Grant Theft
Lindsay Raki, a former player for the All Blacks, has been sentenced to more than 2 years in jail for stealing pokie grant money. He was sentenced earlier today, after the Auckland District Court ruled that he was guilty of stealing $300 000 from pokie grants. Raki’s crimes were discovered during an investigation into pokie…
New Zealand Pokies Spending Declines
In New Zealand, local politicians are concerned about rising problem gambling rates.MP Te Ururoa Flavell has proposed a number of harm reduction strategies that would aim to cause a decline in problem gambling rates. Although his Harm Reduction Bill has yet to be passed, gambling spending is already on the decline. A recent report has…
Pokie-Playing Thief To Serve 8 Years in Jail
Wendy Hope Jobson has been sentenced to eight years in jail, after being found guilty of theft. The former administrative manager had stolen $7.8 million from her former employer over the course of five years in order to fund her addiction to pokies. Her lawyers claimed that she was unaware of her actions, but failed…
The Star Competes With Crown Casinos to Maintain Exclusivity in Sydney
Over the course of the past few months, Crown Casinos has been wooing Sydney politicians with its plans to bring a new high-roller gambling venue to Sydney in 2019. That is the year when The Star’s exclusivity agreement will have expired, and Crown’s plans aim to ensure that the contract cannot be renewed. Now, Echo…
