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| NZ Gaming Column What we want from a new government Gaming venue operators will be looking to an incoming government, and in particular to an incoming Minister of Internal Affairs, to address the cancerous boil that is venue expenses. The Hospitality Association has recently conducted a series of meetings around the country for venue operators. The number one issue was the unfairness of the current gaming venue expenses regime, and the complete lack of recognition by the Department of Internal Affairs that costs have increased significantly since the limits were set three years ago. This is not a new issue and it is not going to go away. Running a close second is the lack of respect applied to venue operators for the work they do in raising funds for the government and the community. Venue operators believe that they do all the work, receive little remuneration and take all the blame for problem gamblers and the decisions of where the gaming trusts decide to make their grants. It’s time for a change, and venue operators will be looking to the new Minister of Internal Affairs to provide that change, with a fairer remuneration system and respect for the work the gaming venue operators do as a key fundraiser for the government and the community at large. A range of other issues have also been identified and will be taken up with the government and the Department of Internal Affairs over the coming months. Venue operators have clearly signalled that enough is enough and significant changes are required to restore venue operators’ faith in their trusts, the Department of Internal Affairs and the government. Bruce Robertson |
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