Suburbs face crackdown on pokies

LOREN BATSON/The Dominion Post

Gambling has been almost a life-long companion for this Wellington man, pictured in Newtown's Bus Stop Tavern and Bar. The addiction has cost him his marriage and his house and, although he has sought treatment, he still plays the pokies once a week.

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A review of Wellington's gambling venues could see a crackdown on pokie machine numbers in the suburbs.

A Wellington City Council proposal would gradually reduce the number of machines in the city by restricting them to a ratio of one for every 300 people in the suburbs.

Anti-gambling groups have endorsed the move. However, others fear it would hurt community organisations that benefit from gambling revenue.

A council report said the current policy was working but earmarked the suburbs of Tawa, Johnsonville, Miramar, Karori and Newtown as "vulnerable to problem gambling" with "significant clusters" of non-casino gaming machines (NCGMs).

There is already a cap on the number of machines allowed in six suburban zones around the city, but no limit on numbers in the central business district.

The council would not be able to force bars to get rid of machines but could prevent them replacing machines. "When NCGM numbers in these areas decline due to natural attrition, they will not be replaced above the established caps," the report says.

Pub Charity chief executive Martin Cheer said capping policies had reduced the number of machines from 24,000 to under 20,000 nationally but there was little evidence to suggest the numbers of problem gamblers had changed.

"There's an aspect that's quite farcical to suggest these ... caps make any difference apart from making political mileage."

Problem Gambling Foundation central region public health promoter Katherine Reweti said reducing the number of machines will help create a safer environment in the community.

"There's definitely recent research to show that, if there are pokie venues in your community, you are more likely to become addicted to pokie machines."

Of the people who approached the foundation, 85 per cent had addictions to pokie machines, she said.

"They're still waiting for the big win and this big win never comes. When people ring to see us, they're already at crisis point."

City councillor Iona Pannett said she wanted the numbers of machines in the CBD capped as well, and the ratio lifted to one machine for every 350 people in the suburbs.

"These things do not add much to our city. They're very damaging to the community. They're sucking money out that could be put to more productive uses."

Each year, $1.3 billion is put in pokie machines in 1486 pubs and clubs around the country.

About a third of the proceeds from the machines goes to local gaming trusts for distribution to sports clubs and community groups.

More than $38 million in grants for community and sports groups was raised between April 2005 and August last year, in Wellington alone.

Councillor John Morrison said he hoped the council stuck with its current policy for the sake of community groups, which relied on the funding.

"What comes out of [reviews such as this] is people try and leap on to the moral high ground and start preaching that we get rid of pokies and that we'll solve all our problems. If we take one away they [gamblers] will find an alternative."

Ms Reweti said that, before pokie machines, there were other avenues for funding community groups and they needed to be rediscovered.

"We survived before but we've come to rely on pokie money to support community groups."

Wellington city councillors will discuss changes to the policy at a strategy and policy committee meeting today.

GAMBLING HIS LIFE AWAY

Gambling has been almost a life-long companion for the Wellington man, pictured above in Newtown's Bus Stop Tavern and Bar.

The addiction has cost him his marriage and his house and, although he has sought treatment, he still plays the pokies once a week.

When approached by The Dominion Post to be photographed for this story, he was happy to oblige. When asked for his thoughts on plans to reduce the number of pokie machines, he said they should be banned outright.

The tempting sight of the machines – even at his bowling club – made it impossible to give up. "They're everywhere," the 52-year-old said. He has gambled since leaving secondary school and paid the price. "It's cost a house and a marriage and a breakdown. You'll never stop. You can monitor it but you can't stop it."

About 2.30pm he was playing one of 18 machines at the bar, which was empty apart from one other man who said he didn't play on the machines and half a dozen or so gamblers in the gaming room.

Asked if Newtown had a lot of problem gamblers, he gestured to the other players in the room and said: "Everyone here's got a problem."

- © Fairfax NZ News