When an individual signs up to a casino’s self-exclusion program, they are normally banned from the gambling venue. If they do make it inside, they are restricted from gambling or cashing out their winnings. However, that was not the case for an Auckland couple, who signed self-exclusion agreements and continued to become VIP players at a Sky City casino. The couple, who have refused to be named, began playing at the casino in 1996.

Several years passed, and they agreed that they had spent too much money gambling. The pair signed up to the self-exclusion program, but they continued to play at the casino for several years. During this time, they were identified only twice and reported for trespassing once. Still, they were allowed to play in the casino’s VIP area, and spent between $300 000 and $500 000.

Their ability to continue playing at the casino highlights some very serious flaws in Sky City’s security systems. The couple claim that their identification was checked every time they entered the casino, but it was never cross-referenced with the list of self-excluded gamblers. To sign in to the casino, he had to provide his driver’s license number and his full name – but employees did not catch on.

"I never wore a disguise. I never hid who I was," the man said. "I pretty much feel I was ignored. As long as you were giving them money they weren't worried”. The case is quite alarming. New Zealand is in the process of introducing harm minimisation strategies, and Sky City claimed to be on board.

However, the casino’s employees do not seem very dedicated to identifying problem gamblers and helping them stay dedicated to their commitment to recovering from their addiction. The casino operator is also in the process of negotiation a deal whereby Prime Minister John Key allows Sky City to install 500 new pokies in return for building Auckland’s new convention centre.

Adding hundreds of new pokies to a casino that cannot keep self-excluded gamblers out does not seem like a very good idea, and the deal will likely draw more fire from responsible gambling advocates.

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.