Casino failing to stop problem gamblers

“If they are winning money, they are told to go home and get some sleep. But if they are losing money, nothing is said,” says Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Freude.


Casino failing to stop problem gamblers
Mon, 02 Apr 2012 6:05p.m.
By Patrick Gower

3 News can reveal that SkyCity is failing to stop hundreds of barred problem gamblers from entering its casino.

This comes as the Government is poised to do a deal with SkyCity, changing the law so it can install up to 500 more pokie machines.

One woman, a problem gambler, told 3 News she put thousands of dollars a week into the pokies at the Auckland casino.

The only way she could stop was by barring herself – effectively taking out a trespass order so she couldn’t go inside.

“After one or two weeks I’m back again… but Sky City never took me out,” the woman – who would only be identified as Nancy – told 3 News.

She’s not alone.

3 News has learned there were 265 trespass breaches last year. Of those:

201 were barred by the casino but got back in
64 had barred themselves

The Problem Gambling Foundation says SkyCity’s host responsibility is poor and fuels problem gambling.

“If they are winning money, they are told to go home and get some sleep. But if they are losing money, nothing is said,” says Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Freude.

The casino also had:

54 incidents of deserted children last year
25 cases of fraud
14 assaults – some serious

“Sky City are making a lot of money out of problem gamblers,” says Mr Freude.

Despite this, the Government is about to do a deal with Sky City and change the law so it gets up to 500 more machines.

“This deal is a shonky deal. John Key told us that Sky City could look after problem gamblers – that is complete nonsense,” says Labour Party leader David Shearer.

While National’s ministers are big on the economic growth benefits, they aren’t always across the social issues - but Mr Key says the casino deal is worth it, and he isn't convinced the "modest increase" in pokies will have an impact on problem gambling.

So the Government will go ahead with its big gamble on the pokies deal, trading a law change for the benefits to economic growth.

As for the social harm, the Government’s position seems to be “trust the casino”.



Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Casino-failing-to-stop-problem-gamblers/tabid/1208/articleID/249033/Default.aspx#ixzz1rAZdZv1V