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New Plymouth's got a pokie machine problem

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 17 Nov 2017, 2:22PM
Their pokie machines are above the national average. Photo/File
Their pokie machines are above the national average. Photo/File

New Plymouth's got a pokie machine problem

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 17 Nov 2017, 2:22PM

Changes are being made to reduce risks of problem gambling in New Plymouth.

The District Council is altering it's gambling policy, implementing a sinking lid approach for venues in Waitara and capping the rest of the district at 320 machines.

The national density of operating machines is 32.7 per 10,000 people, while Waitara's gaming machine density is 70.7.

Group Manager Strategy Liam Hodgetts said the new policy is a preventive step.

"An area where there is, as a result of the density of machines per 10,000 people, there's an issue with a high risk emerging, and that's why we've decided to take action in this case ."

Hodgetts said Waitara presents a high risk of gambling problems.

"We're interested in trying to reduce the density of gaming machines, and that's matched by the socio-economic status of some parts of the community in Waitara."

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