Dave Macpherson
Co-ordinator GamblingWatch (NZ Coalition for Gambling Reform, Inc)
www.gamblingwatch.org.nz

Call for public casino inquiry supported

A gambling issues lobby group has strongly supported the call by Green Party MP Sue Bradford for a wide-ranging public inquiry into loan-sharking "and other criminal and unsavoury activities associated with casinos in this country."

GamblingWatch Co-ordinator Dave Macpherson said "assertions by the casino industry that everything in their domain is above board and squeaky clean belong in the 'yeah right' category."

"The suggestion that loan sharks have been operating on the casino floors at Sky City has been made to the authorities several times in recent years, as have complaints about betting syndicates and other criminal elements," said Mr Macpherson.

"The problem is that Sky City, with an effective casino monopoly throughout New Zealand, is a very big corporate player in this country, not to mention big political donor."

"Neither this Government, nor the previous one, have been willing to really delve deep into what is happening in casinos, and those that have raised issues in the past have been ignored and sidelined."

"In our opinion, nothing was a surer bet when both main parties leapt to their feet to vote for casinos in the early 1990's, that criminal and social problems would soon become part and parcel of these operations."

"The so-called 'strict gambling industry rules' on paper have had a habit of being side-stepped due to the vast amounts of money at stake."

"The Government needs to give the public confidence that the latest crop of allegations are being taken seriously, not just given lip service," said Mr Macpherson.

"They must set up a wide-ranging and public inquiry into casinos and their links with criminal and socially-undesirable elements and activities."

ENDS

*** September 1st 2007 is Gamble-Free Day! ***

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