A little over one year ago the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 came into being in New Zealand. Some of the regulations came into force on 1 April 2005, such as the ban on automatic teller machines in a gambling area of a venue, and the requirement to provide information about problem gambling within the venue. From the first day of next month a raft of new regulations comes into force, some an enforcement of good practice and others more unsettling for the gaming industry.

Regulations 9 and 10 ensure that no advertising relating to a gaming machine jackpot is published inside or outside the venue, and that in any advertising the word ‘jackpot’ is not published in a way that explicitly or implicitly conveys the impression that there is a gaming machine jackpot at the venue. Regulation 12 is the requirement to provide problem gambling awareness training and ensure that a fully trained member of staff is present at all the times the venue is open. Problem gamblers must also be cautioned by operators or their employees.

Regulations 7 and 8 caused the most controversy and were fought against by many operators. From the start of next month every gaming machine must show the correct time, the amount the player has spent and the length of time played. Odds on winning, average payouts and the maximum and minimum player spend rate must all be featured as well. New machines will also have to interrupt play at irregular intervals, not exceeding 30 minutes, and inform the player of his spend and net win or loss. The player must then be asked whether he wishes to continue. Existing machines will not be required to conform until 1 July 2009.

The operators of Class 4 venues with pokie machines have additional restrictions to contend with. The word ‘casino’ can no longer be used by venues that do not hold a full casino licence, or any variant of the word such as ‘cashino’. It has been said that training in problem gambling awareness will have to be accompanied by training in tact if staff have to approach players and tell them they have a gambling problem, it is unlikely that the information would be well received.

In due course studies will attempt to determine the effect the new regulations have on problem gambling statistics and on operating revenues. Many other jurisdictions may well keep an eye on New Zealand’s progress in the fight against gambling disorders, and pop-up messages may become a universal feature on gaming machines. Or it may be that, after an initial effect, players learn to live with the interruptions and scarcely register them. (E-09.12.05)

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