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Originally Posted by
craic
I had to work with problem gamblers from time to time in a previous life. All were serious gamblers who had defrauded employers, clubs and the like. They were a very interesting bunch. One, an accountant, gambled on football. He won $150,000 on one bet. the lot went on the sharemarket and he managed to lose every penny of it in a year by picking dogs, turning them over and picking more dogs I found this hard to believe but I had the details. There were many variations but the presence of slot machines or gambling tables doesn't mean diddley squat. they will always gamble. The idea that they are trying to get out of the pits by getting a big win is rubbish - the excitement appears to be playing the game.Remember the days when every pub had a bookie? Maybe we should close Auckland Airport because thats probably where most of the methamphetamine comes in and maybe a port or two?
Except that ports and airports have other major functions that are 99% of their operations. SkyCity caters mostly to gamblers and hopefully people having a small flutter occasionally. It has been shown several times in the press, that problem gamblers are not always screened from the machines and tables, even if self-banned.
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Business approves of proposal that Opposition opposes
Dene Mackenzie — 15 May 2013
Business interests on Monday expressed their approval for the economic benefits the proposed $402 million international convention centre would bring to Auckland and New Zealand.
But the Labour, Green and New Zealand First political parties all expressed their opposition and concern about what effects the extra gambling concessions provided by the deal would bring.
The Government and SkyCity Entertainment signed an agreement to build the convention centre with SkyCity paying for the centre in exchange for concessions and an extension to its gambling operations.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxton said the planned convention centre, with its capacity of 3,500, would allow NZ to compete to host larger conferences, providing access to a new market.
He said that as an airline based in New Zealand, which has relatively small volumes of business traffic, the conventions market is very important and one which the airline actively target in Australia, Asia and North America.
The 33,000 extra delegates a year the centre is predicted to attract is a significant increase,'' he said.
BusinessNZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly said New Zealand was currently lacking large convention infrastructure and the SkyCity development would result in new business, growth and jobs that would not otherwise have occurred.
“The partnership model that the Government and private sector are working together on for this facility is a good example of creativity and sound planning.”
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said convention centres anchored growth strategies for cities by providing for international and domestic business tourism.
An appropriately sized convention centre in Auckland would underpin the city's visitor growth aspirations.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said it was not a free convention centre for Auckland.
“It will be built on the misery and suffering of families left to pick up the pieces from problem gambling. SkyCity has historically been inadequate in its response to responsibilities around problem gambling and money laundering. There is nothing in this agreement that requires them to do a better job.”
Labour leader David Shearer said the deal was dangerous and reckless because it tied future governments to a “dodgy deal.”
“This trades away the right of a future government to clamp down on problem gambling. It is wrong and it's not the way we do business in New Zealand.”
NZ First leader Winston Peters said SkyCity had been given preferential treatment from whoa to go and the Government had bent the immigration visa rules to deliver rich gamblers to the casino.
The Government is likely to move into urgency to pass legislation allowing building the convention centre in exchange for concessions to its gambling operations.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce announced the deal along with SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison and Auckland Mayor Len Brown.
Construction would start in 2014 with the facility expected to be open in 2017.
In a political twist, the agreement allows for SkyCity to be compensated if the Crown acted in a way to change the concessions listed in the Agreement. Urgency will ensure the Government has enough votes to pass the legislation by requiring its coalition partners to vote with the Government on the issue.
*Dene Mackenzie is business and political editor of the Otago Daily Times.
Adelaide negotiated quite a different deal with Skycity.