17 Aug 2013

Dunedin council to debate cuts to gambling machines

8:14 pm on 17 August 2013

The Dunedin City Council is to debate drastically cutting the number of gambling machines in the city.

A council subcommittee has recommended reducing over time the number of poker machines in the South Dunedin area from 168 to 50 and halving the number of machine gambling venues to five.

If adopted, the policy would operate as a sinking lid, meaning existing machines could stay, but not be replaced or new machines added.

The move is being applauded by Labour MP for South Dunedin, Clare Curran, who says the council is showing leadership to the whole country on problem gambling in vulnerable communities.

The policy will be debated by the councillors on Monday.