New Zealand Pokies

Slot machines are worldwide popular gambling machines with three or more slots reels which spin after the pushing of the button. There are few kinds of regional slot variations. Among them it is necessary to mention the following:

• American slots;
• Australian slots;
• British slots;
• Japanese slots and New Zealand slots.

Regulation

The Department of Internal Affairs controls the gambling on the territory of New Zealand. It is adopted that every public gambling should return a part of benefits to the community. The state-owned institutions operate the biggest part of the gambling industry.

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

Gambling is a kind of problem in New Zealand and there is a non-profit national organization which has the name Problem gambling foundation of New Zealand. The foundation is financed by the Ministry of health from the gambling levy.

History

The slot machines were introduced in New Zealand in 1991. They are known under the name "pokies". For the first time they were operated by charitable organizations. The slot machines were placed in bars and hotels. The jackpots were regulated.

Modern Times

It is known that in 2008 the turnover of money received from gaming was 10096 billion of dollars. The prizes were delivered for the amount of 9158 billion of dollars. In return, the players lost 938 millions of dollars. These results show the decrease comparatively to the 2004. The rate of the decrease is 9%. The pokies made 46% of players' losses in 2008.

Since July 2009 all the slot machines have to possess the Player Information Displays showing how long the gamblers were playing and how much they have already lost. These displays also were showing the recommendations about the necessity of a rest break.

Problem

The Ministry of Health of New Zealand enacted that the pokies are the most harmful variation of gambling machines. More than 78% of players with problems have been using them as their first mode of playing. According to the researches, 64% of people consider the pokie machines to be socially undesirable and stoke out for the reducing of the pokie machines number in New Zealand.