Gambling statistics: casino compliance with Gambling Act
21/4/2005
The Department of Internal Affairs has today released quarterly statistics summarising compliance activity in casinos.
Summary of casino compliance statistics, July 2004 – March 2005:
 | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Totals |
| Investigations by Gambling Inspectors | 16 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 122 |
| Problem gamblers: | | | | | | | | | | 713 |
| Problem gamblers:- excluded by casinos | 22 | 36 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 169 |
| Problem gamblers:- self-excluded | 68 | 69 | 77 | 63 | 64 | 40 | 50 | 47 | 66 | 544 |
Department Deputy Secretary Andrew Secker said that the Department has Gambling Inspectors working in each of the country’s six casinos. Their roles include:
The investigations carried out by Inspectors include those in relation to gamblers’ complaints, Certificates of Approval for casino staff, alleged breaches by the casino operators, alleged cheating, and access to gambling areas by people aged under 20.
Since 1 July 2004 the Act has required casinos to have policies to identify and approach problem gamblers.
Mr Secker said that casinos’ staff are playing a significant role in encouraging problem gamblers to use self-exclusion programmes: “This is a good option because it helps problem gamblers themselves accept that they have a problem and do something about getting help to fix it.
“However, the Act also gives casinos the power to impose exclusion orders on problem gamblers, and casinos are also using that power.”
The Department’s role is to ensure that the casinos have, and are applying, their policies to identify and approach problem gamblers. The numbers of exclusion orders are reported to the Department by the casinos.
Inspectors regularly audit each casino, including checks on cash handling, operation of gaming machines, compliance with game rules and problem gambling policies.
The Gambling Act 2003, regulating casinos
The Gambling Act has brought the biggest changes to the casino market since casinos were first permitted in New Zealand in 1990.
The Gambling Act repealed the Casino Control Act and disestablished the Casino Control Authority (CCA). Most of the CCA’s responsibilities were transferred to the Department and the newly created Gambling Commission.
While the Casino Control Act licensed casinos to promote tourism, employment and economic development, the Gambling Act prohibits any new casinos opening and prevents existing casinos increasing the opportunities for gambling.
The previous Act made no reference to problem gambling or to providing information to the public. The stated purposes of the Gambling Act include to:
Casino gambling, maximum numbers allowed under the Gambling Act
| Casino | Gaming machines | Tables |
| Skycity Auckland | 1,647 | 110 |
| Skycity Hamilton | 339 | 23 |
| Christchurch | 500 | 35 |
| Dunedin | 180 | 12 |
| Queenstown Wharf | 74 | 6 |
| Skycity Queenstown | 84 | 11 |
| Totals | 2,824 | 197 |
Considerable further information about all forms of licensed gambling is available on the Department’s website at: Gambling
Media contact
Vince Cholewa
Communications Advisor Phone 04 495 9350, Cellular 027 272 4270
