Across New Zealand, local residents are supporting government policies that aim to reduce problem gambling rates. Sinking lid policies are a popular option, as they prevent more pokies from being introduced into a particular community. In North Taranaki, residents pushed for this type of gaming policy to be introduced, only to be rejected by the local council.

This week, councillors from New Plymouth District rejected over 200 submissions that supported the introduction of a sinking lid policy in North Taranaki. 234 residents and business owners made submissions in support of the legislation, but local councillors did not feel that it would be the best course of action. The councillors stated that there was little proof that a sinking lid policy would result in lower problem gambling rates.

Since there was little evidence of the effectiveness of the policy, councillors were reluctant to spend the $10 000 it would cost to have the policy undergo public consultation. However, the councillors have taken some action against rising problem gambling rates. They decided to decrease the poker machine cap, so that fewer pokies would be allowed in the community.

The cap has been reduced from 389 to 369. During the submission process, Sport Taranaki requested that the cap be left as is. Currently, pokies generate $2 million for sports clubs across the area every year, and reducing the cap would cut into that funding. "Like it or not, funding from gaming plays a huge part in the modern sporting environment of New Zealand,” said Ross Fulton, general manager of Sport Taranaki.

Fortunately, the council decided that it would be best to reduce the cap. The hope is that problem gamblers will be deterred from spending money if there are not enough poker machines available. This method has been successful in other areas, and local councillors hope that they will see the same effect.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.