The Department of Internal Affairs is to investigate a decision by Auckland's SkyCity Casino not to pay a gambler $60,000 in prize money.
SkyCity refused to pay Sothea Sinn, 28, after he won in a game of poker on Wednesday because he declared himself a problem gambler in 2004 and had a self-imposed playing ban.
A spokesperson for the department, Trevor Henry, says Mr Sinn breached his ban in 2005 by re-entering the casino and was subsequently banned for two years and told to undergo counselling.
Mr Henry says while Mr Sinn failed to undertake the six counselling sessions, he believed his ban had lapsed.
Mr Sinn has told investigators he does not want to make a complaint.
The findings of the investigation are likely to be known by the end of next week.
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