The SkyCity convention centre deal has never been popular among the general public. Since the deal was originally announced, SkyCity has been criticized by local residents, politicians and even some shareholders. In order to save face, the casino operator will have to minimise the potential harm that its 230 new pokies could cause.
The Greens, who have been opposed to the convention centre deal from the beginning, have proposed a number of harm minimisation measures that would help to offset the increase in gambling spending. The political party has suggested the use of pre-commitment cards, which will allow players to set betting limits before they begin wagering.
Pre-commitment has been considered a viable means of harm minimisation in the land-based gambling market. It allows players to keep track of their spending and prevents them from chasing losses. Since there will be more pokie games available at SkyCity, The Greens feel that implementing pre-commitment is a necessary step for helping players resist the temptation to spend more money.
"The Green Party intends to implement sensible and pragmatic measures that reassert the role of public health as the primary driver of gambling regulation, rather than economic development and convention centres," says Greens co-later Metiria Turei. The Greens also want to change some other vital elements of SkyCity’s casino operations.
The party aims to change the operator’s advertising practices, so that SkyCity cannot directly market to problem gamblers. The group also wants to strengthen the casino’s self-exclusion program in order to ensure that players can stop themselves from exceeding their gambling budgets and chasing their losses.
Together, these changes could help to reduce gambling harm across Auckland, in addition to offsetting the potential negative effects of the SkyCity convention centre deal. However, The Greens will have to fight hard to get have these provisions enacted by the local government.
About the Author
