Today, hearings will begin for the SkyCity convention centre deal. Public opinion will be gathered by the New Zealand Commerce Committee, in order to determine how best to proceed with the plan. hearing pans out. The SkyCity convention centre deal will provide the casino operator’s Auckland location with 230 poker machines.
The gaming firm has been granted this benefit thanks to its offer to build the city’s new $400 million convention centre. Although the new convention centre will bring in a great deal of tourism and boost the economy, residents do not want to see it built if SkyCity will receive new pokies in return. On behalf of the Auckland Council, George Wood will present.
He is of the opinion that the new poker machines will contribute to an increase in problem gambling rates across the city. According to Wood, more than 4500 problem gamblers sought assistance, while many more flew under the radar. He only expects these numbers to worsen if the deal goes ahead as planned.
The Auckland Council has recently passed a sinking lid policy, which aims to reduce the number of poker machines in the city over a period of time. So, it was expected that the council would speak out against the convention centre deal, as it seems quite counterproductive.
If the council aims to remove hundreds of pokies over time and SkyCity adds 230 new pokies this year, the council is concerned that problem gambling rates will continue to climb. Cathy Casey will also make her case known. She is concerned that the bill is so vague that pokies will be installed in harmful locations.
There does not seem to be restrictions on where the games will be installed, and she fears that they will be located all over SkyCity property, including outdoors and at bus terminals.
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