Gambling Policy

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gambling-policy-2007.pdf
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Nelson City Council adopted a Gambling policy in 2007 which continues to limit the number of pokie machines and toughens up where they can be sited in the city.

The policy's objective is to support and promote harm minimisation principles for gambling activities within the Nelson city area, and follows public consultation in 2006 which attracted 56 submissions.

The policy caps the number of machines at 301, the current number of consented machines, while the previous policy allowed 328.

The policy also tightens up the rules on where pokie machines can be sited. New venues can only be sited in non-residential and non-open space and recreation zones. The venues also cannot be primarily associated with family or children's activities, and therefore new venues cannot be sited within 100 metres of schools, playgrounds, kindergartens, early childhood centres, or places of worship. They may also not be sited within 100 metres of ATM machines.

The policy also covers ‘stand alone’ TABs, which are not part of public bars. The former policy had no restriction on the number of these venues, although Nelson does not actually have one. The new policy retains the non-restriction on numbers.

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Download the Nelson City Council Gambling Policy 2007 (PDF @ 25K) (24KB PDF)

Policy History

Council adopted its first Gambling Policy in 2004, and is required by legislation to review it every three years. The proposed policy’s objectives are to prevent and minimise harm caused by gambling and to assist in controlling the growth of gambling in Nelson.

In September 2003 the Gambling Act 2003 came into force. The key purposes of this act are:

  • To control the growth of gambling
  • To prevent and minimise the harm caused by gambling
  • To ensure that money from gambling benefits the community
  • To ensure community involvement in some decisions about the provision of gambling

Social Impact Study

In line with the policy objective of preventing and minimising harm caused by gambling, a social impact assessment study was undertaken as part of the consultation process, in collaboration with the Public Health Service of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. The information gathered provided an independent assessment of the likely social impact of the policy changes.

Contact

For more information on the Proposed Gambling Policy contact the Manager Community Policy and Planning via email, or phone +64 3 546 0420.