Raewyn Flay from the Kaitaia Community House thinks the number of pokie machines in her locality needs to come down.
Photo / Supplied
Raewyn Flay from the Kaitaia Community House thinks the number of pokie machines in her locality needs to come down.
Photo / Supplied
Northlanders' spend on pokies in pubs and clubs more than doubled after Covid restrictions were lifted, even after a decrease in the number of electronic gaming machines around the region.
Figures from the Department of Internal Affairs show Northlanders sank $10.4m in gaming machines at the end of the Septemberquarter compared with $4.2m the previous quarter.
A similar trend was reflected in other regions, with spending up as New Zealand moved through the alert levels and gamblers were able to access gaming venues that were closed for seven to eight weeks during the lockdown.
Whangārei recorded $5.1m— the highest proceeds from gaming machines in Northland in the September quarter — followed by Far North ($4.5m), and Kaipara ($696,425).
Nationally, gaming machine proceeds increased by 116 per cent or nearly $131m in the June to September quarter, compared to an average increase of 3.2 per cent in each of the previous five similar quarters.
The number of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Northland came down from 607 to 602 between the June and September quarters.
The Kaitaia Community House has noticed a new type of problem gambling such as online raffles during the lockdown when a lot of people had time on their hands.
"We are working with younger people and those who spend a few hundred dollars a week on gambling when generally that money is for their groceries. Referral to food banks has increased, mostly as a result of gambling," manager Raewyn Flay said.
She said the number of pokie machines in and around Kaitaia, where whānau were already living in poverty and the use of drugs and alcohol was high, was a concern.
There were 63 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Kaitaia at the end of September.
The Far North had the highest number of gaming machines in Northland at 273, followed by 269 in Whangārei, and 60 in Kaipara.
However, the highest number of EGMs in any area in Northland was 99 in central Whangārei.
Tote and Poke Sports Bar and Pure Bar & Grill on Cameron St, Judge-House of Ale on Walton St, The Grand Hotel at the corner of Bank St and Rose St, and Northland Club on Porowini Ave have 18 EGMs each.
Whangārei RSA on Hannah St has nine.
Proceeds from gaming machines in Northland more than doubled to $10.4m following the lockdown.
Photo / NZME
Dianne Harris, budgeting coordinator at the Anglican Care Centre in Whangārei, said people indulged in other forms of gambling rather than just pokies.
One of her clients was spending $200 a week on Lotto, with not enough for food.
"I have also seen a lot spent on types of war games but I am sure it was a form of gambling. The sums were horrendous, easily $100 in one day, justified by saying it was affordable and a chance to meet people from all over the world!"
Harris said there have been cases of people spending lots of small sums on internet sites with American names that added up to hundreds of dollars.
"These sort of sites, that are so easy to get hooked on, become so addictive without even having to leave home. This is an indication that it is not only pokies that are the problem."
