A $2 million return to the community from nearly $11 million spent by some of Wanganui's poorest citizens. That's just one of the miserable by-products of pokie machine gambling, Maori Problem Gambling Service co-ordinator Sharna-Lee Edmonds says.
The other is the harm that problem gambling does to the gamblers and their families.
Mrs Edmonds has spent hours researching what happens to the money pushed into the 276 pokie machines in Wanganui.
"The information is not as transparent as it should be," she said.
One figure was clear. According to the Department of Internal Affairs there was $10,726,173.12 taken in the year to June 2011.
From that 37 per cent goes to community funding - which would be $3,981,555.47, she worked out. But more than $2 million of that will be going to national groups or groups in other areas.
Trawling through the grant lists of Wanganui community groups, Mrs Edmonds found less than $2 million of the nearly $11 million was getting to them.
The rest went to other groups and on tax, payments to the trusts that own the machines and the venues that house them, and a $204,869 problem gambling levy used to fund services like hers.
"Why is it that we stand to lose over $10 million out of the pockets of our families, when we only gain under $2 million in return for our local community groups? This seems unfair and something needs to change," Mrs Edmonds said.
Pokies, also known as Class 4 gaming machines, are the most dangerous form of gambling and can become highly addictive. In Wanganui there are pokie venues across the city, mainly in low socio-economic areas and the middle of town. They are easy to access.
Most of them have jackpot bonus prizes of up to $1000. Mrs Edmonds said that made this form of entertainment highly attractive to families who can least afford to spend what little they have.
Some hope to improve their financial situation through those machines - but the machines were made purely for entertainment and not to make the punters rich.
The societies or trusts that administer them exist purely to pay costs and make profits.
Sadly, many families/whanau leave it too late to do anything about their loved ones' problem gambling, Mrs Edmonds says.
There were many factors that made it likely someone would get addicted to gaming machines. Seeing the signs and addressing any underlying issues was the best way of preventing harm to yourself or your loved ones, she said.
The signs that someone has a gambling problem can include: they are pre-occupied with gambling, they begin by being open about their gambling then become increasingly secretive, they are continually borrowing for "important" things, they sell household items, they spend a lot of time gambling, or they complain about building debt and the lack of money to cover payments.
These are only some signs, and Mrs Edmonds said lies and excuses were always attached to them.
"It's important to be able to identify these signs and do something, rather than leaving someone's gambling to chance. It will only get worse."
Unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, fear and anxiety can trigger compulsive gambling or make it worse.
"After a stressful day at work or an argument with your spouse or co-worker an evening at the track or the pokies can seem like a fun, exciting way to unwind," Mrs Edmonds said.
For more information or support and advice, contact Sharna-Lee or Delyse at Nga Tai o Te Awa, ph (06) 348 9902.
BY THE NUMBERS276 pokie machines in the Wanganui district
$10,726,173 - total takings in the year to June
$3,981,555 - total to be used for community funding
$1,930,617 - approximate return to Whanganui community groups.
$2,050,938 - approximate return to other community groups.
$2,413,388 - gaming duty (tax)
$204,869 - problem gambling levy
$2,410,171 - expenses of trust and societies that own pokies
$1,716,187 - venue payments