In New Zealand the Gambling Amendment Act comes into force today, legislation intended to ensure that the Gambling Act operates as intended. The Bill includes amendments to enhance regulation-making powers to better deal with problem gambling, introduce requirements for the accurate disclosure of non-cash prizes as a consumer protection measure, and strengthen requirements on venues banking gaming machine profits. It also introduces explicit obligations on grant recipients to use pokie grants appropriately, including an offence for non-compliance, and widens the suitability criteria for gaming machine operators and licensed promoters to cover a wider range of offences and management prohibitions.

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker said, “The Gambling Act is large and complex and as is common with new legislation of this nature, during its implementation a number of issues have been identified requiring improvement. The Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) contains many technical amendments and some minor policy enhancements to clarify the law and remove any uncertainties.”

The Gambling Act 2003 became fully operational on 1 July 2004 and was passed with the aim of controlling the growth of gambling and to prevent and minimise gambling harm. It brought in the biggest changes to the gambling sector in over 20 years and besides regulating for the integrity and fairness of games it sought to restrict opportunities for crime and dishonesty and ensure that money from gambling benefits the community. The Gambling Amendment Act (2) 2005 is designed to address the technical changes that need to be made in order to assist the Department of Internal Affairs and gambling sector to engage with more clarity.

On the subject of recent investigations into Christchurch Casino on allegations of loan-sharking and money laundering, the Minister stated, “Work on the bigger picture issues identified in the reports into allegations at Christchurch Casino is underway and it would be premature to address these through what is largely a technical bill. Officials are currently working to better understand the issues identified and only once this process is completed will we be in a position to address these.” (E-08.06.07)

© Copyright 2007 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage