'Shrinking lid' policy on pokies welcomed | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A "sinking lid" policy for pokie machines in Masterton has been welcomed by the town's gambling addiction service.

Margie Delaney, gambling co-ordinator for Wairarapa Addiction Service, said yesterday while it is not her job to focus on the number of machines, it makes sense not to replace a machine once closed.

"It's proven not to be needed where it is. Why would you need it across town?" Ms Delaney said.

"If a business closes you don't take one aspect of that business and reopen it somewhere else. If a supermarket closes down you don't reopen its butchery down the road."

Last week Masterton District Council voted to adopt the policy, which bans new gambling venues and extra machines in existing venues even if one venue shuts a machine down.

While Wairarapa has a combined gambling policy, effectively each district council must decide the detail of that policy in their district.

Ms Delaney, who has worked in gambling addiction in her native Canada and Australia, said while research shows the closer a machine is located to a population the more people use it, she is "not entirely sure" that banning all poker machines in an area is the answer either.

"It's a legal opportunity in a democracy to make sure people can have entertainment if they like," Ms Delaney said.

"There are a lot of people who gamble and it doesn't impact on their finances; it doesn't impact on their family life & it has about the same impact as you or I going to a play or a movie."

Ms Delaney said problem gamblers, however, "would just go somewhere else" if there were no pokies in town. "I've dealt with gamblers who have had themselves excluded from every venue in Masterton that's self-excluded and then hitchhike or do whatever it takes to get to Carterton where they are not excluded."

Ms Delaney said some people think gambling might improve their circumstances.

"There are people who, though they may not say it, see the pokie machine as an ATM.

"They're down to their last $2 and they need to buy a loaf of bread ... they say I think I'll stop in at the pokie and see if I can up it.

"Or their family life is affected and the children don't have proper shoes because of their gambling.

Ms Delaney said some people came for help and did not want to give up gambling completely.

"And then you have to look at harm reduction and getting the bills paid, and you say maybe you can afford to have $20 a week.

"We're dealing with a process."