400 pokie plan ‘modest’
SkyCity has described a plan to increase its Hamilton pokie machines to nearly 400 as ‘modest’ and says its simply what punters want.
The Gambling Commission has begun its hearing into SkyCity’s bid to increase the number of pokie machines it operates at its Hamilton casino.
Chief Gambling Commissioner Graeme Reeves opened the hearing saying it would determine whether to vary SkyCity’s existing casino licence conditions.
This would allow it to increase its electronic gaming machine (EGM) numbers at the casino by 60 to 399 and reduce the amount of blackjack tables it had by three from 23 to 20.
It wants the extra machines to allow it to better service customers around peak times; Friday nights, weekends, special events such as Fieldays week and public holidays.
The application attracted 250 written submissions. Six days have been set aside for the hearing at the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton. Over that time, seven groups will give presentations, including SkyCity, the Hamilton City Council, the Problem Gambling Foundation, Salvation Army, Anglican Action Mission Trust, the Ministry of Health and the Waikato District Health Board.
The bulk of the opening day was taken up with SkyCity’s submission, along with several witnesses it called to back up its application.
Queens council Gillian Coumbe, representing SkyCity said there were many adults who chose to spend time and money gambling at a casino. It was a fun, social activity which they enjoyed.
In the last financial year, the Hamilton casino had just under 1.2 million visits to the gambling floor. Coumbe said there was insufficient customer demand for table games such as blackjack, but not enough electronic gaming machines at peak times.
‘‘It wants to offer in essence, more EGMs and fewer tables.’’
Coumbe called the increase of 60 machines as ‘‘modest’’, but acknowledged the application had generated a lot of local interest and strong views.
‘‘This case is not about whether casino gambling should be allowed, that policy decision’s already been made by parliament...it’s a perfectly lawful activity.
‘‘It’s not about whether EGMs should be allowed, that’s a policy decision also made in the Gambling Act and they are a perfectly lawful form of gambling. Nor is it about whether gambling is a good thing or a bad thing, so there an be no element of moral judgment.’’
Coumbe said the sole question for the Commission was to determine how many EGMs can be substituted if three blackjack tables are removed.
EGMs attracted undue criticism, and Coumbe noted former Hamilton mayor Andrew King publicly denouncing them by calling them ‘‘misery machines’’. The reality was that most people enjoyed EGMs without any harm.
It was also a heavily regulated industry, she said.
It was the first time the commission has had to compare the gambling opportunities offered from an EGM and a table game and this was no easy task, she said.
‘‘This is a test case. This is the first time there has been an application to substitute machines for tables.’’
Included among the witnesses was outgoing Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Chris Simpson. He backed the application because of the positive impact SkyCity has on the Hamilton and Waikato economy.
He said he also did it in response to what he called Hamilton City Council’s anti-gambling stance.
‘‘Considering in 2006, the general manager of Hamilton City Council for economic development said Hamilton had drawcard facilities like the SkyCity casino and is in a perfect location to act as a gateway to other places.’’
The hearings continue today.