The council has proposed changes to its gambling and TAB venue policy which would extend South Dunedin's sinking lid policy on poker machines across the rest of the city.
The new policy would also ban new gambling venues and not allow existing ones to relocate.
At the last review in 2013 a sinking lid was adopted for South Dunedin and a cap introduced for the rest of the city.
A report to the council's planning and environment committee found there had been a 21% decrease in machine numbers in South Dunedin and a 16% drop for the rest of the city.
But there had been an increase in the amount spent on gambling in the city from $16.4 million in 2015 to $16.6 million in 2016.
A public consultation process was held late last year after councillors voted to consult on a sinking lid policy for the entire city.
Of the 56 submissions received, 35 were in favour of extending the sinking lid policy across the entire city and not allowing gambling venues to relocate.
There were seven submitters who did not want any limits placed on the number of venues and gambling machines and wanted venues to be able to relocate.
The current policy of a sinking lid in South Dunedin but not for the rest of the city was supported by 12 submitters.
There were two other submissions received which did not support any of the three options.
Council gambling adviser Kevin Mechen said the purpose of the policy was to minimise the harm caused by gambling in Dunedin.
Submissions were received from both individuals and organisations, Mr Mechen said.
A hearing is planned for next month.
Under the Gambling Act, local councils are required to have a gambling policy but the Department of Internal Affairs is responsible for the granting or refusing of gambling licences.
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Comments
A proportion of the increase in gambling spending is money that has been won being spent back into the gambling venues after being claimed by the winners. It is not neccessarily an increase in earnings being spent.