LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF
Former pokies addict Michael Demchy on his struggle with gambling away a fortune in machines. (Video first published in 2018)
Wellington is poised to begin its long, slow ditching of pokie machines in a move that one city councillor believes will lead to a capital city without a single one of the “dirty money” machines. Tamatha Paul, the councillor pushing for the “sinking lid” pokie policy, and opposing councillor Simon Woolf are in agreement on one thing – the vote for a sinking-lid policy this Thursday is all but certain to pass. Barring any last-minute changes of heart, a Wellington City Council committee will agree to the policy, meaning all existing pokie machine venues can keep operating, but no new permits will be issued and, over time, this will theoretically lead to fewer gambling machines.
Pokie revenue seesaws: Dramatic plummet and record high through Covid-19
4 Apr, 2021 09:00 PM
4 minutes to read
The preliminary results of Retina Rimal s study show links between problem gambling and mental health issues. / Video by Dean Purcell
The preliminary results of Retina Rimal s study show links between problem gambling and mental health issues. / Video by Dean Purcell
Rotorua pokie machine profits plummeted when New Zealand was placed into lockdown but the cash came roaring back at the end of the year. A problem gambling expert said the increase was staggering and the problem was very real in the Bay of Plenty.
In the final quarter of last year, a whopping $252 million was spent on pokie machines throughout the nation, the highest since records began in 2007.
Gambling spend in 2020 in New Zealand beats records rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.