SkyCity seems to be feeling the pressure of public concern over their dodgy deal with the Nats, which will ramp up the number of addictive pokie machines in their casino. Yesterday we were treated to his media blurt:
Lotto worse than pokies – SkyCity boss
SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison says Lotto does more harm to society than its Auckland casino.
He also says SkyCity’s desired increase in machines won’t result in more problem gambling, because Auckland’s public transport system makes getting to the casino problematic. …
But Mr Morrison says Lotto, and “mums in South Auckland” using pokies in pubs around the country, do more damage than SkyCity.
“There is no doubt the incidence of harm is through pokie machines in the community, scattered throughout the community,” says Mr Morrison.
“The reality is public transport in Auckland isn’t that great. You don’t just arrive at SkyCity. You make a deliberate decision to go to SkyCity.
So let me see if I have this straight. SkyCity pokies can’t possibly be harmful because no one will get to use them due to poor public transport. But if someone does manage to find their way there and use a pokie machine then for some reason that doesn’t need explaining the SkyCity machine will be much less harmful than those evil harmful pokies elsewhere in the country. And anyway it’s all Lotto’s fault. And something to do with mums – it’s their fault too. OK? Are we clear now?
No – not really. That’s the most incoherent bunch of nonsense I’ve heard in a long time. Pick one excuse and stick with it guys! Meanwhile back in the real world…
SkyCity currently has almost 1650 pokies on its premises, and in a deal with the Government, will be allowed to increase that to more than 2000 in exchange for a convention centre.
The deal has outraged anti-gambling organisations and the Opposition, whom say the Government is selling the country’s laws, and the increase in the number of machines will cause more problem gambling. …
SkyCity gives only 2.5 percent of its net profit to its charitable trust. Pokie machines in clubs and bars pay back over 37 percent.
‘There is a very clear correlation between availability of machines and the number of machines and the number of problems,” Problem Gambling Foundation chief executive Graeme Ramsey told Auckland Now last week. ”Research shows for every gaming machine you put in you get 0.8 of a problem gambler, so it’s almost one for one.” The foundation also says people who gamble in casinos are more likely to have gambling problems than those who spend their money elsewhere.
No wonder the poor SkyCity dears are having trouble coming up with a coherent story.
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