If they agreed to build a convention centre, he would change the law to allow them more gaming machines and tables to pay for it. This poll was released on the same day that Key confidently predicted the public would back him on it.
I'm dubious on whether any overseas organisations would be willing to pay airfares for 7500 conference attendees to this side of the globe. A business plan on the convention centre's viability was scrapped by our prime minister.
This is the same man who told us his national cycling track (remember that?) would create thousands of jobs (none so far) and that the hundreds of millions of dollars we spent on the Rugby World Cup would make us a tourism mecca (accommodation and restaurant takings went down).
I'm not knocking his natural charm, but Key made his fortune spinning "get rich schemes" to investors before he was 40 years old and wooed a majority of Kiwis into handing over our country to him.
But here's the thing. Imagine a situation in which a privately owned casino gets protected by law to be a monopoly cash cow that each and every year creams more than a hundred million dollars profit for its shareholders? By an act of parliament no competitors are allowed. The gaming machines that are permitted in pubs and clubs are restricted and are required to give 37 per cent of their income to the community. The casino gets away with trickling out a measly 2 per cent. That's a whopping 35 per cent difference.
The restrictions and reducing lid on the number of pub machines means these outlets can't make ends meet. Consequently, their community donations have taken a nose dive.
As you can appreciate, it's a highly political environment these operators and the casinos live in.
Consequently, political donations to candidates and parties are rife. Both mayoral candidates, Len Brown and John Banks, received generous financial backing from SkyCity and last general election National and Labour picked up $60,000 apiece from them.
That's more reason for Key to tread carefully. So where is his head when he offers to change the law to allow SkyCity more machines and tables that'll make them another $40 million a year? SkyCity will be able to use this windfall to pay off its capital costs within 10 years. As a bonus, it'll have all the conference attendees stay at its hotel, eat, drink and, of course, gamble at its venue.
It's a great and smart deal for SkyCity. Its shareholders should give their directors and chief executive a massive bonus if it goes through.
Changing the law for Sir Peter Jackson and his hobbits is one thing. But changing the law to benefit a casino monopoly?
This whole matter smells. It's not the behaviour of the leader of a country that sits on the top of the world of business and political ethics.
Key thinks he can bluff his way through this. Our international reputation and his future are riding on it. He has the bravado of a habitual gambler determined to roll the dice.
