Christchurch Casino is the first Kiwi casino up for a license review. While the current Christchurch Casino license is valid until November of 2019, the New Zealand Gambling Commission is now taking submissions from interested parties. These parties include casino representatives, the City Council and the Problem Gambling Foundation.
Roughly 70 submissions were filed with the Commission. Starting on Tuesday, interested parties could also give oral submissions in a hearing. Skyline Enterprises operates the casino, and already applied for the next license in March. Reportedly, the operator paid approximately NZ$200 000 in application fees to start the process.
Charity Contributions for Christchurch Casino
One of the expected stipulations of Christchurch Casino’s license renewal is a charity contribution. According to reports, the casino will need to pay 2.5% of net profits to charity or NZ$500 000. In 2017, profits amounted to NZ$16.1 million. Using the condition, this means they would need to contribute NZ$402 500 to charities. Currently, SkyCity Auckland has to follow these guidelines.
However, the casino believes this requirement should be NZ$250 000 because it has less facilities. SkyCity Auckland has 150 gaming tables and more than 1800 slots. In comparison, Christchurch Casino has only 36 gaming tables and 50 pokies. As the review progresses, this could be taken into account for the final requirement.
Another suggested contribution for charitable causes is a discretionary fund. This fund should amount to NZ$100 000. Any leftover monies at the end of the year will be added to charitable funds.
Christchurch Casino License Review
Christchurch Casino opened in 1994, and received a license for 25 years. As the first land-based casino in New Zealand, it is also the first to renew its license. This review will set the standard for other casinos due to renew their licenses in 2020 and beyond. So, for updates on this story, keep visiting New Zealand Casinos.
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content. Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Recently updated on July 10th, 2019New Zealand’s banks and financial service providers have been called to help in tackling problem gambling. Former Parliamentarian Tim Barnett is spearheading the campaign to curb Kiwis from overspending on gambling. Currently leading FinCap, Barnett is aware of how many New Zealanders often find themselves in need of budgeting services […]
Recently updated on September 4th, 2019Anti-gambling campaigners are asking the authorities and the public to consider banning gambling ads. However, they are also willing to consider having warning labels on gambling advertising. Most of the gambling ads are not explicitly recognise them to be promoting gambling. This means that many people will not be able […]
Recently updated on June 27th, 2018Paddy Power-owned Sportsbet has moved to sue CrownBet-owned Sportingbet over their planned trademark in Australia. Sportsbet filed a statement of claims against CrownBet on 21 June. This comes after the bookmaker failed to win the bid for the William Hill brand when the UK bookmaker decided to sell. This was […]
Recently updated on February 2nd, 2018It’s no secret that lawmakers in the United States are against sports betting and other forms of gambling. For years, it’s been illegal to bet on sports because of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Now anti-PASPA initiatives, led by the American Gaming Association, are pushing to have […]
Recently updated on July 14th, 2019News of Lotto NZ’s plans to launch an online bingo game was met with much criticism. Anti-gambling organisations, Problem Gambling Foundation led the outcry over the launch of yet another gambling game. The state-owned gambling operator is set to introduce bingo games on its MyLotto website. It is one of the […]
