Drinks but not drunks: casino

By Louisa Cleave and Doug Button

Auckland's Sky City casino offers enticements including free drinks to big spenders, but says it does not allow gamblers to play while drunk.

In Australia, a businessman who lost $3 million is suing a Sydney casino for allegedly letting him bet while intoxicated.

The man claims the Star City casino breached a "duty of care" by offering him inducements to remain a "high-roller."

Casinos often offer airfares, accommodation, meals and drinks to attract high-stake gamblers.

Lawyers for the man said a win might trigger similar lawsuits by problem gamblers.

The Compulsive Gambling Society here wants inducements dropped, and says it is only a matter of time before duty of care is put to the test in New Zealand courts.

Sky City would not say what it offers high-rollers, although its enticements were standard for casinos, a spokeswoman said.

Some were revealed in a court case late last year where a player and card dealer were convicted of cheating. Tonga-based Chinese high-roller Zhu Hua Yu said he was flown to Auckland and accommodated at the casino's expense.

He was lavished with top-quality food and drink in the exclusive Members' Room and received complimentary car parking.

A Sky City spokeswoman, Sonya Haggie, said the enticements were offered to local and international players who bet over a certain level.

Under the casino operators licence regulations Sky City could not allow an intoxicated person to gamble. Staff were trained to spot people who were drunk, she said.

She doubted the casino would change its complimentary system if the Australian courts found in favour of the punter, because it ran a strict host-responsibility scheme.

Ralph Gerdelan, the executive director of the Compulsive Gambling Society, said that the law did not require casinos to stop a person who appeared out of control with his or her betting.

However, gaming houses had a duty of care under common law and they should ask questions if a person was betting excessively or showing signs of addiction.

Mr Gerdelan said this was not happening, Mr Gerdelan said.