On October 24, New Zealand Journalist Brian Rudman wrote an article, entitled: We're relying on money poured through pokies’. In it, the states that local community organizations depend too much on profits from poker machines, making it difficult for the local government to pass reforms that aim to reduce the number of pokies in the country.

However, residents have come to the rescue of pokies, voicing their opinions on how valuable the games are to the country as a whole. An opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald questioned where these funds would come from, if gambling reform were to reduce the number of pokies in the country. The government is spending less and less money on funding community activities while the demand for programs is on the rise.

As the gap continues to widen, it is important to remember the essential service that pokies provide, as their profits are responsible for the donation of millions of dollars.

For example, Arthritis New Zealand is organization that aims to benefit those affected by the condition, which is currently the largest cause of disability in the country. In addition to receive support from Gaming Trusts, the organization also conducts its own fundraising initiatives, which include: seeking individual donations, an annual appeal, corporate sponsorships and hosting community events.

Still, the organization depends heavily on the funds provided by Gaming Trusts, as they contribute a great deal of money to help the charity continue operating. This is why plenty of organizations have spoken out against the Harm Reduction Bill in New Zealand. The legislation aims to decrease the number of poker machines in the country, which means that there will be less funding for local organizations.

However, the bill also aims to ensure that pokies donate more of their revenue to community groups – in fact, upwards of 80%. There are several sides to the argument over pokies funding. While it does provide a great benefit to the local community, poker machines have the potential to cause harm in the form of problem gambling.

So, careful consideration must be taken by all parties when it comes to determining the terms of the Harm Reduction Bill.

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.