Earlier this year, pokie reform was legislation was passed in order to reduce problem gambling rates by introducing voluntary pre-commitment on a national level. In New Zealand, individual states and communities are looking to impose pokie caps to reduce the level of problem gambling locally. This week, the Problem Gambling Foundation has issued a call-to-action for New Plymouth residents.
The group is encouraging community members to come forward and support the introduction of a cap on poker machines. Currently, there are 369 poker machines in New Plymouth, which earned $16 million last year. The Problem Gambling Foundation would like to impose a cap on the number of poker machines in the state, allowing just 382 machines in clubs and pubs across New Plymouth.
There is no cap on pokies at the moment, so the proposed policy would prevent clubs from adding any more than 13 new pokies to the local gambling market "The most protective gambling policy available is the sinking lid and I would like to see this policy in place for New Plymouth,” says Sandi Cummings, New Plymouth foundation counsellor.
The hope is that the decline in poker machine numbers will also result in a decline in gambling spending. Since a significant portion of gambling spending is earned from problem gamblers, it is likely that compulsive players will spend less on pokies as a result of the sinking lid policy. Across New Zealand, sinking lid policies are considered to be an effective method of fighting problem gambling.
Whangarei Council recently decided to uphold its sinking lid policy, scrapping proposals for a flat cap on gaming machines. In Auckland, local community members and responsible gambling campaigners are also making a case for a sinking lid policy on the number of pokies in the capital city. New Plymouth community members have until April 19 to send in written submissions on the issue. To make a submission, visit: newplymouthnz.com..
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