Gamblor’s World

Author:
Source: National News [New Zealand]
Published Date: Dec 17, 2007

Description:
Pokie machines attract too much crime to be a valid form of community fundraising, says the Problem Gambling Foundation. Foundation chief executive John Stansfield said today it was ridiculous that an activity that attracted so much crime and caused so much misery was still being used for fundraising. “Almost every day we see another conviction for pokie-related crime,” he said.

http://www.responsiblegambling.org/staffsearch/latest_news_articles_details.cfm?intID=10983

Author: James Ihaka
Source: New Zealand Herald
Published Date: Nov 23, 2007

Full Document:
NEW ZEALAND — Desperate poker machine gamblers are stripping homes of essential fittings to finance their habit.
Some Housing New Zealand tenants in South Auckland have ripped carpet, ovens, stair rails, doors and water cylinders from their homes and sold them to scrap yards and pawnbrokers.

A Manurewa woman, who did not want to be named, told the Herald her husband’s problem gambling had escalated from spending “$10 every now and then” to selling his family’s hot water supply and oven for his pokie fix at a local bar.

“He ripped out the hot water cylinder and sold it for $230 at a scrap metal yard,” she said. “I think it was later that week when he took the oven and sold that too - it didn’t seem to bother him that we had two children to feed.”

continued at

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10447025

5:00AM Thursday June 21, 2007
The New Zealand Herald
By Stuart Dye
Loan sharks are luring gamblers by approaching them as they ponder their losses inside the casino, Parliament was told yesterday.

Green MP Sue Bradford said gamblers at the SkyCity casino in Auckland were borrowing as much as $10,000 a time to continue playing.

In some cases, she said, gamblers were introduced to the loan shark by a casino dealer.

The Government has ordered an investigation into allegations of loan sharking and financial irregularities at Christchurch Casino.

But the Green Party wants a wider public inquiry. Speaking under parliamentary privilege, Ms Bradford told MPs there were believed to be 10 loan shark groups working at SkyCity in Auckland, both on the ground floor and in the VIP lounges.

“It has been reported to me that the minimum loan in the VIP area is $10,000,” Ms Bradford said.

Those who fell behind in repayments faced threats and some women had even been forced into prostitution to work off their debt, she said.

continued ….

23 March 2007

Green Party Gambling Spokesperson Sue Bradford says tighter
controls are needed on the gambling industry, and
particularly on pokie machines.

“There is increasing evidence that not only are pokies
damaging in their effect on people, they are also actually
deliberately designed to be harmful,” Ms Bradford told
crowds at an event in Otara today.

“The gambling industry has a vested interest in getting
people, whole communities and community sector organisations
hooked on pokies and these machines are designed to do just
that.

“Since pokies were introduced, technology has advanced
and these machines are being increasingly designed to seduce
and addict people. This is an unsafe product and should be
treated as such” Ms Bradford says.

Ms Bradford took part in two events in Auckland today to
mark the launch of a social marketing campaign aimed at
highlighting the damage caused to families, communities and
society by problem gambling.

She joined with community leaders, politicians and Otara
residents to call for tighter legislative reins to be put on
New Zealand’s gambling industry at the Rise Up! Concert
in Otara Shopping Centre. She also attended a forum in Three
Kings discussing issues relating to Asian gambling.

New Zealanders lose about $5.5 million a day through
gambling, and it’s estimated that about 50,000 adults may have
a serious problem. One in three people seeking help from
food banks in some areas are doing so due to gambling.

Ms Bradford is hoping to there will be an opportunity later
this year to strengthen laws surrounding gambling.

“The Government is likely to put forward legislation
amending the Gambling Act as the former ‘Responsible Gambling
Bill’ comes up for its three year review.

“It is time for action on the harm being done by pokie
machines. We need to put in place major reforms on gambling -
not to just tinker around the edges.

“The Greens fought hard a few years back to improve the
law around gambling and pokies but unfortunately the
Government didn’t take things as far as we would have liked.
Crucially, control over numbers, locations and licences should
be vested in local government.”

at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOGQv00fNm4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrLl71mVIMA

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=215&objectid=104278255:00AM Friday March 09, 2007

By Oliver Staley

In the casino of the future, slot machines might recognise gamblers by name, take their drink orders and sell them tickets to a show.

Behind the scenes, the slots would be linked to a central server computer that would allow operators to instantly adjust the odds or the minimum bet from, say, 5c to 25c.

Manufacturers tout the new technology, aimed for delivery in 2009, as the biggest innovation since the lever that gave one-armed bandits their name. Yet casino operators and players aren’t so sure. They say the devices may not pay for themselves, and they’re wary of a technology geared so much to the individuals that it might scare off customers.

As much as US$10 billion ($14.6 billion) - the cost of replacing all 800,000 US slot machines - may be at stake. Casinos will benefit, the makers say, because gamblers will play longer and spend more.

“I consider where we are in the casino industry today is where the internet was seven years ago,” says Jeff Allen, director of business development at Las Vegas-based Bally Technologies, the second-biggest US slot maker.

“Once you have all the gaming technologies in place, you’ll be able to change the gaming experience much faster than you can today, and that is revolutionary.”

Slots are crucial to the casino industry. They generate more than three-quarters of the US$55 billion in US annual gambling revenue. At SkyCity’s Auckland casino, slot machines brought in $98.3 million in the six months to December 31 last year, 60 per cent of total gaming revenue. That’s one reason casino operators are cautious.

“Guest tracking can be a creepy thing,” Tim Stanley, chief information officer at Harrah’s Entertainment, said at an industry convention in November. “Not everyone wants you to know their name.”

Gamblers already are suspicious of the house’s ability to tinker with the odds, says Susan Fisher, slot manager at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon, which has 1250 slot machines.

“We’ll have to convince them that it’s in their best interest, and that won’t be easy,” she says.

Slot-machine manufacturers say these concerns are overblown. Brian Gamache, chief executive officer of Waukegan, Illinois-based WMS Industries, says he heard the same worries when the US industry switched four years ago to cashless slot machines that used pre-paid tickets.

“I was told it would never work because people wanted to hear money in the slot machines,” Gamache says. “The players will get used to it, and at the end of the day, the casinos will have a better experience.”

One of the biggest advantages to server-based slots is the ability to make gamblers feel welcome in the same way high-rollers are greeted by casino hosts, Gamache says.

International Gaming Technology, the biggest slot maker, demonstrated a model at an industry convention in Las Vegas last November that let players who inserted their membership card see a menu addressing them by name.

Through a touch screen, the player could order a drink to be delivered by a cocktail waitress.

Ultimately, the technology used in creating the games is crucial, says Steven Zanella, vice-president of slots at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas’s largest casino.

“The games are the most important aspect,” he says. “If they don’t want to play them, server-based gaming isn’t going anywhere.”

Go to the below website to find the following articles:
http://www.gamblingwatch.org.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145820069

GamblingWatch
PO Box 5188, Hamilton
email: gamblingwatch@xtra.co.nz
ph: 021-477 388
fax: 07-824 5033

This section includes original research, reports of local and overseas research (and links to other sites containing research), submissions, analysis of statistics and speeches by politicians & others.

RESEARCH REPORT

Latest research on the Nova Scotia trial of a “Responsible Gambling Device” (smart card), Tracy Schran (January 2007) - available at: http://www.nsgc.ca/pdf/Focal%20Research%20Report%20_2_.pdf
World Count of gambling machines, Ross Ferrar, AGMMA (December 2006): http://www.agmma.com/pdf/World%20Count%20of%20Gaming%20Machines%20July-06.pdf
Report of the NZ Gambling Commission into the Proposed Problem Gambling Levy (December 2006): click on http://www.gamblingcom.govt.nz/GCwebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Reports-Publications-Proposed-Problem-Gambling-Levy-(December-2006)!OpenDocument
Nevada Smoking & Gambling Study (Pritsos, University of Nevada, 2006)
Problem Gambing Prevalence Report (South Australia, November 2006)
Unbalanced Reel Machines (Falkiner & Horbay, October 2006)
Problem Gambling in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey.(NZ Ministry of Health, August 2006)
Problem Gambling Geography of New Zealand and the Problem Gambling Analysis of the Health Survey (NZ Ministry of Health, August 2006)
Harrahs 2006 Survey: Profile of the American Casino Gambler
The Physical & Psychological measurement of gambling environments (Finlay, Kanetkar, Londerville & Marmurek), July 2006
Gambling with our Kids’ Future (Arlene Moscovitch, The Vanier Institute of the Family), June 2006
Key findings of the Australian National Survey of Gambler Precommitment Behaviour 2005 (McDonell, Phillips Pty Ltd) June 2006
Alcohol, other drug use, and Gambling among Australian Capital Territories workers in the building & related trades (Bamwell, Dance, Quinn, Davies & Hall) April 2006
Community Impacts of Electronic Machine Gambling (Part A) Final Report (Commissioned by:The former Victorian Gambling Research Panel; Prepared by: The SA Centre for Economic Studies, January 2006)
Evaluating Implementation of a Voluntary Responsible Gambling Code in Queensland, Australia, Published online June 6, 2005

Inquiry into Smartcard Technology (South Australian Independent Gambling Commission, June 2005)

Inquiry into effectiveness of Gambling Rehabilitation Programmes (South Australian Independent Gambling Commission, June 2005)

Aggressive Behaviour in Adult Slot-Machine Gamblers: A Qualitative Observational Study, (May 2005)Adrian Parke and Mark Griffiths, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom

Minnesota Gambling Report (April 2005) Gambling is a multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar industry in Minnesota. Through attempts to legalize, regulate, and manage gambling activities, state government has been actively involved in the history of gambling in Minnesota.

Newfoundland & Labrador Gambling Project Report (January 2005) - a report from the Addictions Treatment Services Association on VLT gambling in Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada.

Review of Research on Aspects of Problem Gambling - for UK Problem Gambling Trust (Final Report), October 2004. Authors:Professor Max Abbott, Dr Rachel Volberg, Dr Maria Bellringer, Dr Gerda Reith.

Alison Penfold - Presentation on Thesis ‘Gambling with your Life’ - Gambling & Suicide (May 2004) Full Thesis available on www.acts.co.nz - PROBLEM GAMBLING AND SUICIDE: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROBLEM GAMBLING, ALCOHOL MISUSE AND SUICIDE IN A POPULATION PRESENTING FOLLOWING AN EPISODE OF SELF-HARMA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 2004. Abacus Counselling and Training Service Ltd
The Changing EGM Industry and Technology - Discussion Paper from Latrobe University, Melbourne (August 2004)
The Problem Gambling Committee’s Report on the 2003 National Problem Gambling Statistics (April 2004)
The Ministry of Health consultation document Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harmincludes: Strategic Plan 2004-2010, Needs Assessment, Proposed Three-Year Funding Plan, and Proposed Problem Gambling Levy Rates (March 2004) - link to pdf file
The Waitakere City gambling action group surveyed local residents in late 2003 on their views and attitudes towards pokies and pokie bars (WAGA, February 2004) - pdf file
Bendigo Economic Study (LaTrobe University Centre for Sustainable Regional Development) pdf file
A New Retirement Hazard (Sean Sullivan)
Where are funds from pokie machines in NZ distributed (Simonsen/Grant - GamblingWatch) pdf file
High School Youth Gambling survey (Sean Sullivan)
Manukau City Social Impact Report, 2003 pdf file
Pokie funds distributed in 2002, by region & sector (Simonsen/Grant - GamblingWatch)
‘Tatts targets the vulnerable’ (article by Royce Millar, with link to original report)
Report on funding from 4 major pokie trusts (GamblingWatch, 2001)
Victorian Suicides During the Year 2000
LINKS TO OTHER RESEARCH SITES:

USA link to research info: http://www.keith-thomas.info/Gambling%20Research%20Reference.htm

STATISTICS, etc.

Gambling Expenditure in NZ 1982-2006
Pokie Machine Numbers in NZ by Local Authority (including casinos): March 31 2006
2004 National Problem Gambling Statistics (released November 2005)
The Problem Gambling Committee’s Report on the 2003 National Problem Gambling Statistics(April 2004)
Comparison of casino & non-casino pokie trust grants (GamblingWatch, March 2004)
Gambling Losses in NZ over the years (Dept of Internal Affairs, December 2003)
Statistical reports from NZ Gambling Treatment Services (Problem Gambling Cttee, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Phone Helpline statistics (Problem Gambling Committee, February 2003)
Pokie Machine Numbers from June 1994 - June 2003 (Dept of Internal Affairs, September 2003)
Problem Gambling Factsheet (Ministry of Health, 2003)
Pokie machine update (Dept of Internal Affairs, September 30, 2002)
More statistical reports available on ‘How Many Pokies in Your Patch’ page

ARTICLES, etc.

Where’s the Consumer protection? - Ian Scott (November 2006)
“Is Gambling Addiction an Impairment?” - Australian Employment case, Lucienne Mumme (October 2006)
The following articles from Journal of gambling studies June 2006 are available as pdf files if you would like to request them from me: glenda.northey@pgfnz.org.nz

Gill . Factors associated with gamblers: a population-based cross-sectional study of South Australian adults
Rychtarik. Preliminary evaluation of a coping skills training program for those with a pathological gambling partner
Delfabbro. It?s not what you know, it?s how you use it. Statistical knowledge and adolescent problem gambling
Bergevin. Adolescent gambling: Understanding the role of stress and coping
Hustead. Is speeding a form of gambling in adolescents
Nelson. The proxy effect: Gender and gambling problem trajectories of Iowa Gambling Treatment program participants
Potenza. Characteristics of older adult problem gamblers calling a gambling helpline
Zimmerman. Prevalence and diagnostic correlates of DSM IV pathological gambling in psychiatric outpatients

UK article on the legal principles of restitution - relating to a court ordering a casino to return monies illegally gambled
Responsible Gambling Features of Card-Based Technologies (Sharen Nisbet), International Journal of Mental Health & Addictions (Dec., 2005): http://www.ijma-journal.com/issues/issue/3/2
Double Jeopardy: Older Women and Problem Gambling (Christine McKay), International Journal of Mental Health & Addictions (Dec., 2005): http://www.ijma-journal.com/issues/issue/3/2
An Insider’s Look Into the Process of Recovering From Pathological Gambling Disorder: An Existential Phenomenological Inquiry (Gary Nixon & Jason Solowoniuk), International Journal of Mental Health & Addictions (Dec., 2005): http://www.ijma-journal.com/issues/issue/3/2
Does Gambling Advertising Contribute to Problem Gambling? (Mark D. Griffiths), International Journal of Mental Health & Addictions (Dec., 2005): http://www.ijma-journal.com/issues/issue/3/2
Report on Problem Gambling in Hamilton (Alison Leask, OASIS, March 2005)
Social Banditry - Poker machines & Poverty in Victoria (James Doughney, Marxist Interventions, January 2005)
Gambling & Suicide in Canada (Canada Safety Council, December 2004)
On Line Gaming and Problem Gambling Review (August 2004)
The Tug of the Newfangled Slot Machines (Gary Rivlin, New York Times, May 2004)
When smoking is beyond a joke - ethics check on pokie venues (Victorian Interchurch Gambling Taskforce, October 2003)
Local Govt & Gambling Law (Gaming News Magazine, August 2003)
Pokie funding research shows cash missing welfare target (GamblingWatch, April 2003)
Summary of Problem Gambling Bill (Dept of Internal Affairs, December 2002)
Gambling in Australia (Svenson, 2002)
Gambling in Canada (The Economist, 2002)
Snapshot of pokie trust fund distribution (GamblingWatch, 2002)
SPEECHES, PRESENTATIONS & SUBMISSIONS

Interview with Funeral Director on the incidence of gambling-related suicides (Russell Phillips, 28 July 2006)
NZ Gambling Act: One Year On: Presentations to Auckland (AUT) Gambling Conference by Andrew Secker & John Markland (June 2005)
NZ Parliament Regulations Review Select Committee rejects complaints by Gambling Industry over machine interrupters (May 2005): link to: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport.aspx?Year=&Cat=17&CatName=Regulations&Order=
Sue Torkington (GamblingWatch) Submission to NZ Parliamentary Select Committee on ‘Pop-up’ Interruptions on Pokie machines, April 2005
Papers from University of Alberta (Canada) Gambling Conference, March/April 2005)
Sue Bradford MP speech on Gambling Amendment Bill 2004, December 2004
GamblingWatch presentation to the 3rd Auckland International Gambling Conference (includes analysis of how pokie trust & club pokie profits are spent), May 2004
GamblingWatch submission on Ministry of Health Problem Gambling Strategy paper, April 2004
Jim Anderton MP, speech to Clubs NZ Conference 21/3/04
Peter Dunne MP, speech to NZ Gaming Expo 20/3/04
Sue Torkington, Wntn Regional Public Health submission to Wairarapa local authorities on gambling venue policies, 12/3/04
GamblingWatch submission to Dept of Internal Affairs on new regulations, Feb 2004
Dave Macpherson, GamblingWatch presentation to HANZ Conference, 5/10/03 (pdf)
Gambling in Victoria, Australia - presentation by Charles Livingstone (LaTrobe University) to the Sept 2003 Intrenational Gambling Conference in Auckland
Tariana Turia MP, speech to September, 2003 International Gambling Conference
Sue Bradford MP, speech to Parliament on the Responsible Gambling Bill, 12/8/03
GamblingWatch Submission to DIA on Pokie Trust Admin expenses (June 2003)
Robin Gwynn, Napier activist, radio column, 26/1/03
PRESENTATIONS TO, AND MATERIAL FROM, 2004 COMMUNITY ACTION ON GAMBLING CONFERENCE (August/September)

Setting the scene - what’s happening in New Zealand (Dave Macpherson, GamblingWatch) 446kb pdf
Strategies & Actions in Timaru (Maree Kearns) 18kb pdf
Links in a Chain that Binds (Sue Torkington, GamblingWatch) Part 1 - 1.36mb ppt; Part 2 - 1.39ppt
Distribution of Pokie Trust Funding (Hope Simonsen) 44kb pdf
Regulations, Rules & Community Rights (Keith Manch, DIA) 260kb pdf
Levying the Industry - fixing the problem, or fobbing off the community? (Debbie Edwards, MoH) 244kb pdf
Local Venue policies - are they worth the paper they are printed on? (Sue Zimmerman, Manukau City Council) 797kb pdf
Review of Australian gambling action & reflections on the NZ situation (Sue Pinkerton, South Australian activist) 43kb pdf
Educating the Public (Sue Torkington) 936kb pdf
Report on Asian Problem Gambling Services 2004 (John Wong, Problem Gambling Foundation) 147kb pdf
Local Government venue policies - keeping the good & fixing the bad (Richard Northey & Jules Garland, Problem Gambling Foundation) 530kb pdf
NZ POLITICAL PARTY GAMBLING POLICIES (click on party below)

National Party

Green Party

Labour Party: view the Gambling Act at http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.NSF/Files/act0351/$file/act0351.pdf

GOVT EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PREVENTING & MINIMISING GAMBLING HARM

Minutes of meeting held on 20th October 2005
Minutes of meeting held on 14th February 2006
Minutes of meeting held on 15th June 2006
Minutes of meeting held on 19th October 2006
OTHER INFORMATION

Department of Internal Affairs: www.dia.govt.nz (handles regulations and licenses for casinos & pokie bars and collects statistical information on gambling in New Zealand [see Info from the Media button]

Please click on this link to go directly to the regulations page:

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Casino-and-Non-Casino-Gaming-Regulations?OpenDocument

The Department has updated fact sheets 22 Harm Minimisation, 27 ProblemGambling, and 29 Racing Industry to include information on the regulations The fact sheets are available on the Department’s website. Please click on this link to go directly to the fact sheets page:

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Casino-and-Non-Casino-Gaming-Fact-Sheets-(Gambling-Act-2003)?OpenDocument

The NZ Herald -

5:00AM Monday February 26, 2007
By Angela Gregory

“Some Chinese students are gambling for days on end and ending up homeless while others treat it like a professional job, a new settlers conference at Auckland University has been told.

Wendy Li, who is researching Chinese international gambling for her masters degree at Waikato University, said some students had admitted gambling from 10 hours up to three days in a row.

“They’ll take a couple of minutes out for a snack and stay in their cars.”

Such self-diagnosed problem gamblers preferred casino tables to the pokies as they had higher returns and involved more skills.

Ms Li said the gambling had badly affected their studies, finances and health. “Some have experienced homelessness and approached loan sharks.”"

article continued ….

www.stuff.co.nz/national

NZPA | Thursday, 15 February 2007

The Charity Gaming Association yesterday rubbished what it called attempts by the Problem Gambling Foundation and the Greens to blacken the reputation of the charitable gaming sector.

Association chairman Paul East said attacks on its grants to racing clubs were “misguided”.

Green Party MP Sue Bradford said yesterday millions of dollars from pokie machines in poor communities were being distributed to the racing industry.

She said the Problem Gambling Foundation had figures showing about $17 million was involved.

“Not only is the transfer of money from poor to rich completely immoral, the lack of transparency about these transactions is extremely disturbing,” Ms Bradford said.

She said the Government needed to act to put things right.

But Mr East noted today that racing clubs, like other community groups, were entitled to apply for grants.

“In fact the Department of Internal Affairs has specifically approved grants to racing clubs as an authorised purpose for grants of gaming machine profits.”

He added the association estimated that less than 5 per cent of all charity gaming money granted each year went to racing clubs.

That amount was “not disproportionate to the amount given to other worthwhile community groups”.

“There is no justification for grant distribution to be handed over to faceless government officials – the dozens of community leaders currently involved in making the important decisions about how to fairly and equitably distribute a diminishing pool of grant money are doing an excellent job.

Suggestions to the contrary by politicians were unfounded.

6:00AM Wednesday February 14, 2007
Millions of dollars from pokies in poor communities are going to the racing industry, says the Green Party.

MP Sue Bradford said Problem Gambling Foundation figures showed about $17 million was involved.

“The Government needs to amend the Gambling Act to allow for more transparency in the distribution process. It must also re-examine the transfer of money from poor communities straight back into racing.”

Ms Bradford said distribution should be in the hands of the Department of Internal Affairs.

6:00AM Wednesday February 14, 2007
Millions of dollars from pokies in poor communities are going to the racing industry, says the Green Party.

MP Sue Bradford said Problem Gambling Foundation figures showed about $17 million was involved.

“The Government needs to amend the Gambling Act to allow for more transparency in the distribution process. It must also re-examine the transfer of money from poor communities straight back into racing.”

Ms Bradford said distribution should be in the hands of the Department of Internal Affairs.