New Zealand Party Wants Pokie Free City

AUCKLAND CITY, New Zealand – As reported by the New Zealand Scoop: "'Auckland City should aim to be pokie free by 2010' says Alliance Leader Matt McCarten. In a submission to the Council's Draft Gambling Venue Policy, the Alliance Party is calling for the Council to begin decreasing the number of pokie venues in the city by refusing all new pokie venue licenses.

"…In its submission the Alliance describes how pokie machines in Auckland city are sited in the poorest areas.

"…The submission argues that licensing further pokies will simply exacerbate the growing problem of gambling addiction among people who already strapped for cash, '85% of all new problem gamblers seeking treatment in New Zealand are addicted to pokie machines.'…"

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