SkyCity Casino has decided they want larger decks so more patrons can gamble whilst having a cheeky ciggy.

This move has angered many public health groups who are opposed to the casinos application to the gambling commission.

The proposed deck is set to be four times larger than the current smoking deck that will be converted into another internal area of the casino.

Anti-smoking group ASH and the problem gambling commission are seriously opposed to the expansion and say it will encourage more vulnerable people to gamble for longer.

Andree Froude from the Problem Gambling Foundation said they were concerned that letting someone play the pokies and smoke simultaneously would mean there would be less chance they would take a break.

“We know that’s a vital harm minimisation tool. They can walk away from these machines that are highly addictive and can reflect on their gambling and just have a break.”

The casino already has balconies where you can both drink and gamble but the proposed new deck is significantly larger.

“We already have an issue with people being able to smoke and use pokie machines and you would think in 2025 with Aotearoa’s smokefree goal that this would have evolved significantly, given what we know about the harm from tobacco and gambling.” said Froude.

However, SkyCity said that it “applied to modify an existing balcony area for customers who choose to smoke”.

“The balcony will comply with all legal requirements, including that it be an open area and that gambling activity will not be visible from the outside”.

Director of anti-smoking group ASH Ben Youdan said in a statement the pokie deck only served to exploit groups who were more at risk from smoking harm.

“Smoking rates are now under 7 percent in Aotearoa New Zealand and highly concentrated in the lowest income communities, people experiencing poor mental health and vulnerable populations.”

He said the plan did not make sense from a business stand point.

“Aotearoa New Zealand has a well-publicised goal to be smokefree, potentially by the end of this year. We have seen record declines in smoking rates over the last 5 years, yet Sky City wants to invest in a significantly increased size of the smoking deck.”

 

 

Photo Credit: Igaming Business