Christchurch City Council Reviews Gambling Policies

Christchurch City Council is reviewing the gambling policy on poker machines.

The Christchurch council and community have only this Friday to vote their options.

The council had presented five options for the gambling policy while the Downtown Community Ministry, not a member of the council constituency, is suggesting option number four.

The option four is the choice to maintain a status quo and to continue the moratorium that had started in 2004.

Option four means that no additional venue licenses will be approved except if the societies are forming and seeks the ministerial consent.

There would be no additional poker machines if the community chooses the option four.

Christchurch already has two thousand ninety nine poker machines, the largest number in any New Zealand district.

The option four will force the Christchurch council to address problem gambling.

Director Stephanie McIntyre of Downtown Community Ministry said that they are fully aware of the destructive effects of gambling in New Zealand.

The results of the phone interview of Downtown Community Ministry show that gambling is the leading reason for lack of food and houses in New Zealand.

Downtown Community Ministry plans to submit their report prior the deadline on Friday to urge the council to select option four.

August 01, 2006
William Atkins