Gambling access restricted

11/12/2006
A side-street entrance to Wellington’s Occidental Hotel pokie machines must be closed, the Gambling Commission has ruled. The decision backs a licence condition by the Department of Internal Affairs that access to the gaming area must be in direct line of sight to the main bar to guard against minors accessing the machines.

Unison Trust, which operates the machines, lost its appeal against the condition. The commission’s ruling is in line with a decision it made in June when it rejected a similar appeal by the Lion Foundation brought on behalf of 11 venues around the country.

Internal Affairs’ Acting Director of Gambling Compliance, Gregory Crott, welcomed the result.

“This will ensure consistency across the gambling sector,” Mr Crott said. “It will also limit the opportunity for problem gamblers to enter the area without being seen.”

Media Contact:
Greg Crott, National Manager Licensing and Compliance, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph 04 495 9330

Trevor Henry, communications adviser, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph 04 495 7211; cell 0275 843 679