Since the Gambling Act was introduced in 2003, there has been a decline in the amount of money being spent on pokies, which has led to a decline in community funding. To help rectify the issue, the New Zealand government is in the process of conducting a review that will take a look at the sustainability funding community initiates through pokie profits, whether the Gambling Act is still fit-for-purpose and whether there is a more cost-effective way to regulate the market. These issues are addressed in a new discussion document that is now available to the public.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says that the ‘public discussion document gives the public a chance to have their say’. It is the next step in the New Zealand government’s review of existing gambling laws, which ultimately aims to improve the way in which pokie funding is distributed in order to better benefit the local community.

Members of the community can read the discussion document here. Submissions can be made, which will be considered by government officials and discussed by key stakeholders, such as commercial venues, problem gambling service provides, grant recipients and societies.

“We will be looking at proposals to future-proof that funding,” Mr Dunne says. “This discussion document is an opportunity for the community to let the Government know what they think are the challenges faced by the sector, and how to ensure that we get the maximum benefit from class 4 gambling, without growing gambling and minimising harm”.

Submissions to the Department of Internal Affairs is due by Friday, August 12, 2016. You can email your submission to [email protected], or you can send it by post to:

Safer Communities Team
Policy Group
Department of Internal Affairs
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140