Gambling

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Consultation has concluded.

Project Update

The Council received 38 formal submissions and the hearing panel appreciated the opportunity to hear from six submitters, with a variety of views, in person. The hearing panel deliberated on the submissions and took into account the pre-consultation information provided before making decisions that they felt takes into account the needs of our community. 

 

At its meeting on 4 October 2022 Council accepted the recommendations of the hearing panel and adopted the reviewed policies. 

 

The key changes to the policies are:

 

Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy

  • Clause 7 – option 3 which allows 1 gambling machine per 260 people 18 years or older. This approach allows for a limited number of new machines in the district as population increases but does not result in unfettered increase in the number of Class 4 gaming machines. 
  • Clause 12 – a new clause making provision for relocation of class 4 gaming machines in the district. All other elements of the policy apply to any new venue.

 

TAB Venue Policy

  • The TAB Venue Policy terminology has been updated in accordance with the new Racing Industry Act 2020. It was noted that no applications for a ‘standalone’ TAB have been received for the Waimakariri District in the last ten years. 

 

Concern around host responsibility at class 4 gambling venues was expressed by a number of submitters. We would like to acknowledge the work that is currently underway by central government through the Department of Internal Affairs to assess the effectiveness of current legislation with particular regard to host responsibility and problem gambling. 

 

The updated policies are available on Council website at: https://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/your-council/council-documents/policy-manual



Waimakariri District Council plays an important role in helping to manage the growth and minimise the harm of gambling in our community, while enabling people to use gaming machines and TABs if they wish to do so. While we recognise that gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment, there is concern from our gambling support and social services sector about the social impact that gambling, and in particular problem gambling, is having in our communities.

Our Gambling Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy seek to minimise the harm that can be caused by problem gambling.

The Council adopted our Gambling Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy in 2016, after carrying out extensive public consultation, and now it's time to review these policies to ensure they still make sense for our community.

Our Gambling Venue Policy allows Council to directly control the growth of Class 4 gambling (gambling machines) by creating rules around the number of venues and gaming machines, and their location, within the District.

The Board Venue Policy allows the community to input into decision-making through Council’s public notification and submission process, should there be any new requests for a standalone TAB.

As part of the review, we engaged with the community via a public survey to determine whether there was an appetite for change concerning our current gambling policies. You told us that we should consider changes to how we manage the number of gambling machines in the District.

Have your say

We’re considering changes to Clauses 7 and 12 of the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy, which determine how we manage and control the number of gambling venues and machines in the District – let us know which option you prefer.

Clause 7: That a district wide cap of 1 gambling machine per 120 people 18 years old or older be used as a guideline to limit any increase in machine numbers. 

Option 1 – status quo. The current policy would allow for a further 133 Class 4 gaming machines in the District.

Option 2 – cap machine numbers at 157 (current level). This provides a cap on machine numbers not impacted by population increase.

Option 3 – ratio to be current level at 1:260. This maintains current numbers of machines and allows for an increase in machines as the population increases.

Option 4 – introduce a sinking lid policy. Once a class 4 gambling venue closes, the Council will not issue any other society a licence to replace that venue. Over time there will be fewer machines in the District.

Clause 12: Introduce a Relocation Policy

Option 1 – status quo. No relocation policy is included.

Option 2 – relocation of machines is allowed where the venue is intended to replace an existing venue (within the District) to which a class 4 venue licence applies. Maintains the number of class 4 machines in the District.

Option 3 – relocation of machines is not allowed. Reduces the number of machines in the District if used with the cap of 157 machines. Without the cap, a new licence could be applied for unless a ‘sinking lid’ applies.


You can also have your say on whether you agree that no changes should be made to other aspects of the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy, and Board Venue Policy.

Complete the survey below to make a submission on whether we should make changes to the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy. 

Submissions close Monday 11 July. 

Section 101 of the Gambling Act 2003 requires Council to adopt a Class 4 Venue Policy, while Section 96 of the Racing Industry Act 2002 also requires us to adopt a policy on TAB venues. 

Project Update

The Council received 38 formal submissions and the hearing panel appreciated the opportunity to hear from six submitters, with a variety of views, in person. The hearing panel deliberated on the submissions and took into account the pre-consultation information provided before making decisions that they felt takes into account the needs of our community. 

 

At its meeting on 4 October 2022 Council accepted the recommendations of the hearing panel and adopted the reviewed policies. 

 

The key changes to the policies are:

 

Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy

  • Clause 7 – option 3 which allows 1 gambling machine per 260 people 18 years or older. This approach allows for a limited number of new machines in the district as population increases but does not result in unfettered increase in the number of Class 4 gaming machines. 
  • Clause 12 – a new clause making provision for relocation of class 4 gaming machines in the district. All other elements of the policy apply to any new venue.

 

TAB Venue Policy

  • The TAB Venue Policy terminology has been updated in accordance with the new Racing Industry Act 2020. It was noted that no applications for a ‘standalone’ TAB have been received for the Waimakariri District in the last ten years. 

 

Concern around host responsibility at class 4 gambling venues was expressed by a number of submitters. We would like to acknowledge the work that is currently underway by central government through the Department of Internal Affairs to assess the effectiveness of current legislation with particular regard to host responsibility and problem gambling. 

 

The updated policies are available on Council website at: https://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/your-council/council-documents/policy-manual



Waimakariri District Council plays an important role in helping to manage the growth and minimise the harm of gambling in our community, while enabling people to use gaming machines and TABs if they wish to do so. While we recognise that gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment, there is concern from our gambling support and social services sector about the social impact that gambling, and in particular problem gambling, is having in our communities.

Our Gambling Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy seek to minimise the harm that can be caused by problem gambling.

The Council adopted our Gambling Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy in 2016, after carrying out extensive public consultation, and now it's time to review these policies to ensure they still make sense for our community.

Our Gambling Venue Policy allows Council to directly control the growth of Class 4 gambling (gambling machines) by creating rules around the number of venues and gaming machines, and their location, within the District.

The Board Venue Policy allows the community to input into decision-making through Council’s public notification and submission process, should there be any new requests for a standalone TAB.

As part of the review, we engaged with the community via a public survey to determine whether there was an appetite for change concerning our current gambling policies. You told us that we should consider changes to how we manage the number of gambling machines in the District.

Have your say

We’re considering changes to Clauses 7 and 12 of the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy, which determine how we manage and control the number of gambling venues and machines in the District – let us know which option you prefer.

Clause 7: That a district wide cap of 1 gambling machine per 120 people 18 years old or older be used as a guideline to limit any increase in machine numbers. 

Option 1 – status quo. The current policy would allow for a further 133 Class 4 gaming machines in the District.

Option 2 – cap machine numbers at 157 (current level). This provides a cap on machine numbers not impacted by population increase.

Option 3 – ratio to be current level at 1:260. This maintains current numbers of machines and allows for an increase in machines as the population increases.

Option 4 – introduce a sinking lid policy. Once a class 4 gambling venue closes, the Council will not issue any other society a licence to replace that venue. Over time there will be fewer machines in the District.

Clause 12: Introduce a Relocation Policy

Option 1 – status quo. No relocation policy is included.

Option 2 – relocation of machines is allowed where the venue is intended to replace an existing venue (within the District) to which a class 4 venue licence applies. Maintains the number of class 4 machines in the District.

Option 3 – relocation of machines is not allowed. Reduces the number of machines in the District if used with the cap of 157 machines. Without the cap, a new licence could be applied for unless a ‘sinking lid’ applies.


You can also have your say on whether you agree that no changes should be made to other aspects of the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy, and Board Venue Policy.

Complete the survey below to make a submission on whether we should make changes to the Gambling (Class 4) Venue Policy and Board Venue Policy. 

Submissions close Monday 11 July. 

Section 101 of the Gambling Act 2003 requires Council to adopt a Class 4 Venue Policy, while Section 96 of the Racing Industry Act 2002 also requires us to adopt a policy on TAB venues.