Council may crack down on pokies

The right for Tauranga gamblers to access an extra 300 pokie machines could be removed by order of the city council.

The right for Tauranga gamblers to access an additional 300 pokie machines could be removed by order of the city council.

Concern about harm caused by problem gambling resulted in the council yesterday seeking to cap the number of pokie machines to the status quo of one machine per 228 people.

Proposed changes to the council's gambling venues policy included lifting the ratio from the current limit of one machine for every 147 Tauranga residents. Retaining this ratio meant nearly 300 extra machines could be immediately established as of right, based on the city's current population.

The higher population-based ratio was the most far-reaching change to go out for public consultation.

Six of the 10 councillors opposed Cr Steve Morris' bid for the total number of pokies to not exceed the 529 machines now operating in Tauranga.

It was agreed that Tauranga suburban growth areas like The Lakes should not be disadvantaged by new bar owners facing major hurdles before they could offer pokies.

The council argued the new ratio would limit the growth in the number of machines without having an immediate impact on gaming venues and community-based trusts that relied on funding from the machines.

The declining number of pokie machines in Tauranga has been partly attributed to the growth in internet gambling.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said the tens of thousands of dollars in compliance costs loaded on to pokie operators by Internal Affairs was another reason.

A suggestion that Tauranga could follow other New Zealand councils and introduce a sinking lid policy on the number of pokies was opposed on the basis that those councils did not have the same growth in new suburbs like Auckland and Tauranga.

Cr Morris urged the council to give residents something to react to rather than a minor change to the status quo.

Councillor Gail McIntosh argued that Tauranga was a growing city and new areas needed to have little bars so people did not have to drink and drive.

"Other people's choices are not our business."

Councillors who supported Cr Morris were Rick Curach, John Robson and Catherine Stewart. Opposing were Mr Crosby and councillors Leanne Brown, Kelvin Clout, Matt Cowley, Bev Edlin, Bill Grainger and Gail McIntosh.

Pokie Machines in Tauranga by the Numbers

* Gambling machine proceeds last year: $29.36 million (4th highest in NZ)

* Amount gambled per head of population: $243

* Gambling venues in the most deprived city areas: 13 venues

* Problem gamblers helped in Tauranga last year: 236