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Govt offers Sky City 350 pokies – Labour

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 3:07p.m.

Approval was given seven months ago for Sky City's plan to build the convention centre (file)

Approval was given seven months ago for Sky City's plan to build the convention centre (file)

The Government is offering Sky City an extra 350 pokie machines in return for a $350 million convention centre, Labour says.

Ministers won't comment on the negotiations, saying they're commercially sensitive, but Labour MP Ruth Dyson says Sky City wants 500 pokies and the Government has opened the bargaining with an offer of 350.

Approval was given seven months ago for Sky City's plan to build the convention centre in return for it being allowed to increase the number of gaming tables and pokie machines in its casino.

Opposition parties are fierce critics of what they call "chequebook legislation" and say the government is putting commercial interests ahead of public concern about problem gambling.

Ms Dyson, Labour's internal affairs spokeswoman, says it's a "really bad way" to conduct public policy.

"The social cost for Aucklanders affected by the ramifications of problem gambling will be significant," she said.

"Communities are already vehemently opposed to more pokie machines."

Sky City said earlier this month talks were continuing with the Government over the convention centre.

In addition to more pokie machines it wants an early renewal of its Auckland casino licence beyond 2021 and changes to gaming regulations.

It says the new centre will bring in about $90 million annually in additional visitor spending.

NZN

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Comments

22 Feb 2012 08:21a.m.

Mike wrote:

@idlegus What is your solution to problem gamblers that wont take responsibility for thier actions?

Do you want all gambling banned? So nobody can gamble as some wont take responsibility for thier actions. How will you ban illegal gambling as illegal gambling is more of a problem than legal gambling as it has other crimes tossed in. Legal gambling also pays tax while illegal gambling does not.

We have had the odd crazy go around shooting people - so do you want all guns banned? How will you enforce illegal firearms as most problems come from illegal firearms? But what about machette attacks and people being knifed, air powered weapons? In much of NZ we have more households with legal guns than the typical gun-carrying USA! Yes some states in the USA have plenty of guns, but it is not the norm in all states.

Accidents on roads can happen, so set a speed limit of '0' and then if everyone is law abiding no road toll ... except we have a few thousand drunks/druggies without licenses that dont care about driving legally ...

People go to Skycity typically to gamble, so more gambling in the same place changes nothing.

Accidents can happen at work, so lets all ban work in the workplace as a saftey issue! Its the leftist thing to do and will have union support - getting paid for doing nothing would be perfect. Oh? We already have the unemployment benefit? No doubt will want the unemployment benefits set higher than NZ can afford to keep the unemployed living a lifestyle they have become accustomed too.

22 Feb 2012 07:58a.m.

Brad wrote:

Idlegus, so you are happy for our taxes and rates to go up to pay for this new $350m convention centre?

This is a great deal for Auckland and NZ. A brand new state of the art convention centre, built right in the centre of Auckland, by private funds, all for adding a few hundred new pokie machines at the same venue!

Its not like Sky City dont have any pokies already, as Hayden already correctly points out it just gives problem gamblers better selections!

21 Feb 2012 08:55p.m.

idlegus wrote:

typical idiotic right-wing thinking, subsidise private profits, how? the social problems that problem gambling brings we will all have to pay for, get it?

21 Feb 2012 07:47p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

Quote:'Approval was given seven months ago for Sky City's plan to build the convention centre in return for it being allowed to increase the number of gaming tables and pokie machines in its casino."
What a briliiant idea!!!! Some one please tell Mayor Len Brown, a similar deal between the Council and Government could pay for the Super Dooper Citys planned Transport Infrastructure which every Aucklander wants, but doesnt want to pay for it.?????? Auckland could have "Drive Through Pokie Parlours" and pokie machines on all the trains and buses as this would help the passengers to fill three hours a day while they travel to and from work!! More and more people would use public transport and eventually the roads would all be empty and Mayor Len would be able to cancel all his current transport plans saving Billions of dollars. We will have to be aware of commercial sensitivity.



21 Feb 2012 06:58p.m.

Hayden wrote:

why dont they let them its only another 500 for a great benefit for the country gamblers will just have more of a selection then they already have. gamblers will still be gamblers no matter how many pokies there are. i know coz i am one

21 Feb 2012 06:10p.m.

Mike wrote:

If someone is a problem gambler, they will find something to be a problem gamler over.

They already have pokies at Sky City so a few more wont change a thing.

No doubt Ruth would probably like to see the govt pay problem gamblers to gamble - she could even make it part of Labour policy! Lets face it, if someone doesn't have the money to gamble, it must be up to the govt to provide! If the govt doesn't provide such money, it must be because the gamblers are living below the poverty line if they cant afford to gamble!

You can go down to the local instant Kiwi/Lotto shop and become a problem gambler without paying Sky City drink prices! Or you could go down to the local TAB. The pokies are not the problem and dont increase the problem. All the pokies do is offer problem gamblers more flavours to try.

21 Feb 2012 03:20p.m.

Kim wrote:

How can this be commercially sensitive unless the govt is considering more deals with other operators? And once the precedent is set the govt will be bound by law to approve them.