source: pixabay.comAccording to reports, the new sinking lid policy for pokies in the Mackenzie District has been criticized by the Problem Gambling Foundation for not going far enough
An extraordinary district council meeting in Fairlie last week saw changes adoptged to its Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy. The changes follow the decision to revoke the existing policy back in June 2021.
Class 4 refers to pokie machines in clubs, pubs and TABs. Previouslym the council had a 65 machine limit in place with 36 operating pokies machines and no sinking lid policy.
The council had sought feedback on three options – to impose a sinking lid, to lower the overall number or to impose no change or opt for another option.
Of the four submissions the council considered, two – Trust Aoraki, who manage 18 of the districts’ 36 pokie machines, and the Gaming Association of New Zealand – wanted a cap of 45 licences with a relocation policy.
The other two submissions – from the Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) and Community and Public Health – supported a strong sinking lid.
Staff and councillors proposed a merger of options, which resulted in a modified sinking lid proposal being adopted. The policy adopted allows for the transfer of machine licences should a business change hands, adding another caveat allowing licences to be transferred if the venue is affected by a natural hazard or fire.
This means that should a business close for any other reason, the pokies machines will be non-transferable.
There are currently f36 machines across the district, as well as an application for a further nine machines underway for the Tekapo Tavern, which is undergoing a rebuild after a fire in 2019.
According to the Problem Gambling Foundation there was $1,022,865 spent on class 4 pokies in the Mackenzie District during the 2020-2021 financial year.
Problem Gambling Foundation director of communications Andree Froude said sinking lids are currently the best policy available to councils for minimising the harm caused by Pokies. However, they only work if venues are closing. Froude said:
“Often they don’t, so it can take a very long time. We actually believe sinking lids don’t go far enough, and a lot of councils around the country are feeling quite hamstrung about what they can do.
“We’ve seen recently some councils speaking out strongly about wanting to get pokies out of their communities because of the harm, and because the benefit they’re getting from funding just doesn’t make up for it.
“I think they need more control over that, so they can make decisions stronger than sinking lids. That would require a change in the Gambling Act, but I think it’s time for that conversation to happen, because so much harm is being caused in our communities.
“The harm from pokies far outweighs any benefit from funding communities.”
