Submissions to open on proposed gambling and TAB venue policy

Formal consultation is about to start on a proposed Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy 2023, which is aimed at limiting the opportunities and managing the effects of gambling in the district.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Regulatory Manager, Anthony Hall said only minor changes had been proposed to the policy, which was last reviewed in 2018. 

“Our current policy has been working well, but we’re proposing to remove elements the Gambling Act 2003 and Racing Industry Act 2020 don’t require councils to have,” said Mr Hall.

Class 4 gambling relates to Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM) otherwise known as "pokies" in clubs or pubs. EGM are owned and operated by societies - non-commercial organisations that raise funds for the community or for authorised purposes.

Proposed amendments to the Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy include removing requirements for societies to disclose information to QLDC and to publicly notify any application.

Mr Hall said the changes considered that councils were not required to hold information disclosed by societies, that the information was readily available from several other sources, and that public notification made it impossible for Council to meet statutory timeframes on applications it received.

“There are no societies operating clubs in the Queenstown Lakes District currently, and no stand-alone TAB venues operated by the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) either,” said Mr Hall.

Copies of a Statement of Proposal and the proposed Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy 2023 can be inspected online at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/, or at Council offices and libraries in the district.

Submissions can be made online from Monday 3 April 2023 at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/, via email to letstalk@qldc.govt.nz, or post to ‘Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy Submission, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Freepost 191078, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348’.

Submissions close on Friday 5 May 2023 and will be followed by a hearing for those who wish to speak to their submissions.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION|KĀ PĀROKO TĀPIRI

Statement of Proposal: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/kt5izcin/10d-statement-of-proposal.pdf

QLDC Proposed Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy 2023: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/b2hbqflq/10c-draft-class-4-gambling-and-tab-venue-policy-2023.pdf

QLDC Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy 2018: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/0dmmxblr/10b-qldc-class-4-tab-gambling-venue-policy-2018.pdf