'Cash' dumped to protest against gambling

Last updated 12:18 01/09/2009

NZPA

GAMBLING AWAY FUTURES: AUT students placing $5 million of fake money underneath the Sky Tower to demonstrate how much money is lost every day through gambling.

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University students have dumped $5 million in fake money at the base of Auckland’s Sky Tower today in a protest against gambling.

The protesters' Gamble-Free Day stunt demonstrates how much money is lost every day through gambling.

AUT Student leader Dafydd Barrar said the majority of New Zealanders have no idea how much money is lost and how many families are affected by problem gambling.

“When you think that up to one in five New Zealanders are affected by problem gambling, it’s clear that something needs to be done,” he said.

The protest is supported by the Problem Gambling Foundation.

Its communications manager, Andree Froude, said $5m goes down the drain in gambling every day – from Lotto, TAB, scratchies, casinos and pokie machines.

In total Kiwis wagered $2 billion in 2008, she said.

The majority was lost through pokie machines – accounting for $938m, or $2.5m a day.

Ms Froude said pokie machines not only dragged more money out of people’s pockets, they were highly addictive because they gave an instant ‘hit’ and led to more problem gamblers than any other type of gambling.

Gambling was having devastating effects on New Zealand communities, Mr Barrar said.

The people losing money to gambling were the very ones who need it the most he said, with the poorest communities having an average of one pokie machine for every 75 people.

The protest action had extra relevance in Auckland, where the city council was set to consider relaxing a 'sinking lid' policy on gambling venues outside casinos tomorrow.

The policy meant that when a venue closed, no others could open up. Currently the city has about 1400 pokie machines in around 100 venues.

However the council’s community services committee is considering a new policy which would allow a new venue to open up when another closed, meaning the total number of venues would be capped.

New venues would be required to have fewer machines than the closing venue, and there would also be restrictions on where gambling venues could open.

The policy has been criticised by the Problem Gambling Foundation.

Gamble-Free Day started in 2005 and is held on September 1st to raise awareness of problem gambling in New Zealand.

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MillyS #48 08:54 am Sep 02 2009

# 16 - since when was SkyCity in Wellington or has the Capital shifted to Auckland and they forgot to tell anyone?

Jon #47 05:33 am Sep 02 2009

Why cant these people bugger off and focus on something positive instead of looking for problems. They are behaving like annoying busybodies some of whom, one guesses, will end up in some unproductive govt. dept. telling everyone how to live. Sod off.

Paneno #46 05:08 am Sep 02 2009

Lets see. Gambling. Lifes a gamble! Like getting up in the morning and hoping you don't get run over by some idiot while going to work or coming home. Buying a house after working your butt off and watching the value drop. Oops, another gamble. Getting married to the one you love, then finding out that they are a raving lunatic. Damn. Lets work the stock market. Nope, no luck there. Well maybe the only thing that is a non gamble is staying in bed and not getting up. Is that a plane I hear. It seems to be getting closer!!!!

Anonymous #45 05:17 pm Sep 01 2009

All the paper was picked up.

peter jamieson #44 05:17 pm Sep 01 2009

People love talking personal responsinility when it is not them. Unfortunatly the chances are that someone close to them has lost more than they can afford gambling. Takes a village tro raise a child, then to keep the village functioning it takes a community.

Jordan #43 04:52 pm Sep 01 2009

I am sick of students taking the moral high-ground on whatever hot issue they decide needs to be brought to light.

They accomplish nothing and waste my taxes whilst they do it. Gamblers will not see that 5 million as wastage , but the potential pool their winnings come out of.

Just another excuse to waste time , drink beer, socialise and and get in the paper.

William The Gambler #42 04:21 pm Sep 01 2009

I spend $1500 a day on the pokies and I alway hit the jack pot, every hour, they can all go get stuffed

vivid #41 04:18 pm Sep 01 2009

I agree with others who have said that gambling is destroying peoples lives and families. Most people see gambling as a bit of fun but for those who it is something more it is a dark downward spiral! Go AUT! Whether you agree with what they have done or not at least the have made people aware of the issue !!!!

Convicted Criminal #40 04:13 pm Sep 01 2009

I tried the same stunt back in 1991 - to protest against Student Fees. I found out VERY quickly that the NZ Police did NOT have a sense of humour, and I ended up with a criminal conviction for counterfeiting.

Most of my family still wont speak to me, and I still cant get a US visa.... It really ruined my life, and its looks like these kids will get away with it scot-free! Thanks NZ Police - nice job.

AUT Student #39 04:06 pm Sep 01 2009

Just so you know, we picked it all up again. This is actually what the photo is depicting.

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