Racing clubs must declare their interests in pokies or risk
losing their betting licences, it has been revealed.
The New Zealand Racing Board confirmed all clubs had to
declare their interests in pokies and "provide assurances"
that those interests - including grants from trusts - were
compliant with the law.
NZRB acting chief executive Bill Colgan said the declaration
was a "condition of betting licences being granted", and was
introduced last year.
The move aimed to improve public perception of the integrity
of the racing industry, by eliminating or reducing issues
that "impact negatively on the racing industry".
All clubs completed the requested declarations, and the Otago
Daily Times has requested copies under the Official
Information Act.
Asked if pokie grants applications would be submitted through
the NZRB, rather than through each individual racing club, Mr
Colgan said the "NZ Racing Board has no current or planned
involvement in this process".
In a July 2, 2010 memorandum to then racing minister John
Carter, the NZRB proposed a new framework for "greater
transparency in racing industry receipt of gaming grants".
That proposal included a national cap on how much the racing
industry received from pokies - estimated at $19.6 million
each year, and a cap also for racing stakes, which would
decline each year.
In addition, each racing club would forward the details of
its pokie trust grant applications to the NZ Racing Board for
approval. However, these proposals have been rejected by the
NZRB.
A question on how many clubs were under investigation because
of their involvement with pokies was referred to the
Department of Internal Affairs.
An Internal Affairs spokesman said the department was
involved with "a number of" investigations into racing and
trotting clubs, but was unable to provide details of
investigations.
"The department welcomed the NZRB's move for greater
transparency and the board kept us informed of what they were
doing," the spokesman said.
Mr Carter said he had expressed concern at reports of the
industry's involvement, either real or perceived, in the
abuse of gaming machine grants, and welcomed the efforts by
the NZRB to deal with such issues.
He was satisfied the change would result in a more
transparent process, and expected all "racing clubs to have
been honest in their declarations".
Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand chief executive
Graeme Ramsey also welcomed NZRB's move.
The NZRB had made it "quite clear" it was concerned about
integrity and people's perception of the integrity of racing.
"I think it is a very good thing they are doing."
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
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