Following a licence suspension from New Zealand’s Gambling Commission, Dunedin Casino is closed today and tomorrow. The closure is a result of legal action taken by the country’s Secretary of Internal Affairs, who accused the casino of failing to take adequate action over a problem gambler. The suspension is only two days, and not the maximum six months, as the Gambling Commission agreed that a previous administration had operated the casino for most of the time the problem occurred.

The Dunedin Problem Gambling Foundation has taken a somewhat shortsighted view and is refusing a request from Dunedin Casino for monthly meetings. Its refusal is on the grounds of ‘not wanting to appear as if it is endorsing the inadequate measures the casino is taking to address problem gambling.’ Instead of jumping at the opportunity to ensure that good practices are in place to minimise the possibility of players becoming addicted, and that measures are not inadequate, the Foundation seems to prefer to remain as a woolly anti-gambling lobby quoting its own statistics.

Casino workers should not be financially affected by the two day closure as the casino operator, Dunedin Casino Management, is expected to pay its employees and the Unions will doubtless make sure that they do. Many employees are still at work even though they will not be attending the public. It is to be hoped that staff will be receiving further training in problem gambling detection and prevention, with or without the help of the Dunedin Problem Gambling Foundation. (E-11.13.06)

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