Club input into the DIAs Reducing Pokies Harm Consultation

31 March 2022

The Department of Internal Affairs is currently calling for submissions on its discussion document "Reducing Pokies Harm" with the aim to strengthen regulations (rules) to minimise harm from Class 4 Gambling in New Zealand.

Clubs New Zealand is preparing a submission as well as guidance for clubs to be able to make their own submissions and we hope to have these available soon.

To help us with preparing the submission we would appreciate your thoughts.  The DIA have identified a number of options which could have a significant if not devastating impact on club gaming operations, the options include but are not limited to:

• No access to ATMs from inside a venue, only from outside.
• Pre-commitment for both amount of money and/or time.
• A range of training and monitoring options have been suggested.
• Machines could be required to display more information, such as return to player ratios of games, volatility of games, harm minimisation messaging.
• Gaming machines should provide information on true losses.
• Prevention or limits on the ability to make multi-row bets.
• The maximum stake of $2.50 could be reduced.
• "Free spins" may be reduced or limited.
• Pokie machines could be required to have a maximum number of games that could be played in an hour.
• Maximum jackpot size could be reduced.
• Signage showing jackpot levels could be prohibited.
• A wide range of new penalties and infringements are proposed.

If you have any comments on the discussion document that you would like to share please email them through to lucy@clubsnz.com asap.

You can find out more about the consultation and the discussion document over on the DIAs website here https://www.dia.govt.nz/reducingpokiesharm