Recently, New Zealand politicians and gaming industry professionals have been at odds over the new pokie machines that will be installed at SkyCity Auckland as part of John Key’s convention centre deal. The hearing process has started, and groups arguing in favour of the deal have pointed out that any new pokies in New Zealand would be less harmful if they were installed in a casino rather than at a pokie club.
However, after crunching the numbers, responsible gambling advocates have found that this is not the case. According to Graeme Ramsey, Chief Executive of New Zealand’s Problem Gambling Foundation, compulsive players are actually at more risk when they play pokies at casinos. He states that this is the case because casinos are venues that have been designed to ensure that players continue wagering.
Pubs and clubs offer players other entertainment options but, at casinos, players are only encouraged to gamble. The reason players visit casinos is to gamble, while they are likely to visit pubs even if they don’t wish to play pokies. Ramsey notes that the average SkyCity poker machine earns $141 000 every year. At pubs and clubs, pokie machines earn half of that.
As such, he questions the arguments that claim pokies would be less harmful when they are located in SkyCity. The Problem Gambling Foundation also doubts that SkyCity’s host responsibility measures would improve when the new games are added. There will be 230 new pokies at the venue, but the casino operator will continue to hold its staff to SkyCity’s former responsibility rules.
Parties that oppose Ramsey’s stance have noted the vast benefits that the deal will provide. By allowing SkyCity to build Auckland’s new convention centre, the city can tap into a lucrative tourism market. Thanks to SkyCity’s new pokies, the economy will improve and new jobs will be created. Each side of the debate has a compelling argument. It will be interesting to see which one prevails.
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