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In this Gambits:

• Redemption Terminals permitted in Class 4 Venues
• Pause the pokies

Redemption terminals have been approved for use in class 4 venues with Cash-In-Ticket-Out (CITO) technology from this Friday, 22 September 2017.

The technology will allow gamblers to ‘cash-out’ at class 4 venues by redeeming tickets printed from a gaming machine. A ticket can be presented to an automated payment terminal for self-service payments of up to $200. For pay-outs in excess of $200, venue staff will be able to attend the terminal and authorise the payment of amounts between $200 and $999.

These changes will allow a significant proportion of a venue’s float to be held within a secure payment terminal.

The Class 4 game rules and standards will be updated to reflect the changes.

Please contact your department liaison if you have any queries about the changes.

Gambling Harm Awareness Week ran from 4-10 September with a theme of ‘Whānau Fun - we can beat gambling harm together’. It was a good reminder that while gambling provides a source of entertainment to people, it can also be harmful; the campaign’s aim was to prompt people to think about their situation and ask “is your gambling still just for fun?” 

The week involved a number of events across the country, including “Pause the pokies” which saw seven venues in Lower Hutt and eight in Whanganui turn off their gaming machines for one hour. The Hutt venues were The Fitzroy Tavern, Stokes Valley Cosmopolitan Club, Naenae Bowling Club, Wainuiomata Bowling Club, Te Aroha Pavilion, Angus Inn Hotel, and Strike. In Whanganui the Tandoori Spice bar, Shotz bar, Grand Hotel, Midtown Inn, Cosmopolitan Club, St Johns Club, Castlecliff Club and Wanganui RSA participated.

Venues reported some good conversations around the difference between enjoyable and problematic gambling and Fred Ferris, Manager of Naenae Bowling Club, said: “The Naenae Bowling Club was proud to be a part of Gambling Harm Awareness Week.  We are dedicated to supporting and protecting our members and the community from gambling related harm.  By recognising Gambling Harm Awareness Week, we are signalling the importance of the role of clubs in minimising harm from gambling.”