The operation of poker machines is a serious business, and club owners are trusted with a great deal of responsibility. Normally, they are able to rise to the occasion and ensure that the games operate with integrity in fairness; however, there are some rare instances where this simply does not happen.
Recently, a New Zealand pokie club has had its gaming license revoked for being on of the rare operators that could not property look after its machines. According to a press release, the Sideline Bar in Richmond will no longer be able to operate poker machines.
This is because the venue’s pokies are operated by the Bluegrass Trust, a pokie trust which recently had its license revoked for supplying misleading information to the Department of Internal Affairs. The Sideline Bar also found itself implicated in a similar scandal,a s down Sonya McIntyre supplied false information to gambling inspectors about the funding of the games.
The Department of Internal Affairs launched an investigation into the venue in 2012, when issues were raised about its funding. During the investigation, Mrs McIntyre provided misleading information and only corrected it once it became clear that she had actually been caught in a lie. She attempted to keep the pokies in operation by withdrawing from her role as management at the venue.
She stated that her husband would take her place so that the club continue operating pokies, but the Gambling Commission did not accept the compromise. “Public expectations of the Class 4 gambling sector are high,” says Raj Krishnan of the Department of Internal Affairs. “Cancellation of this licence was necessary to maintain the effectiveness and integrity of the Class 4 licensing system.”
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