Deeper in debt

Dozens of problem gamblers in Northland are being helped to quit the habit, and counsellors are seeing an increase of around five or six online gamblers every month. One gambler is reportedly spending $2000 a night online. According to the Department of Internal Affairs, Northlanders spent $8.6 million on gaming machines in the third quarter this year, up almost $137,000 on the previous quarter. The number of gaming machines in Northland rose by two, to 625, while the number of gaming venues fell by one, to 47. Far North gamblers spent $3.7m, while Kaikohe’s 68 machines placed it ninth in the region.