According to figures from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), profits from pokie machines venues in South Auckland soared in the final quarter of 2020.
Over $26 million in profits was made in the last three months of the year, up by 20 percent on the $21,866,959 in the third quarter of last year.
In October, Auckland Council voted to maintain its sinking lid policy for pokie machines. The policy means no new consents are issued for new venues. It also prevents the machines from one club being transferred to another if it closes, with the purpose of reducing the number of machines overall. Currently, the majority of the pokies venues remain located in areas of high deprivation such as South Auckland.
PGA’s Andree Froude Says Figures “Are Concerning”
Problem Gambling Foundation (PGA) spokesperson Andree Froude weighed in the latest DIA figures for South Auckland. She stated that she was not surprised by the figures and expressed her concern. She said:
“In the fourth quarter of last year gaming machine profits ($252 million) nationally were the highest they have ever been since records started,” Froude said. “The fact 50 percent of our pokie machine venues are in our poorest areas, like South Auckland, means the figures are not a total surprise but they are concerning.”
“I think the whole community funding system which relies on money from pokies is also a problem and relies on money coming from our poorest communities. And of course the money does not always go back to the communities it comes from.”
“We would like to see councils have more power over whether they want to have pokie machines in their communities because they review the venues every three years and I think they are starting to recognise that,” she said.
“A lot of communities don’t want them and there is more recognition of the harm they cause.”
