Labour has launched a website challenging Prime Minister John Key's Sky City deal that would allow the casino to have more pokie machines in return for a multimillion-dollar convention centre.
Mr Key confirmed yesterday that he made the offer to Sky City in his capacity as Minister of Tourism.
Labour has set up a website - Show Us Your Cards, John - which encourages people to tell the Prime Minister their thoughts on the legislation required to be changed to allow the deal.
"They've decided to do this even though it will increase problem gambling. Is this legislation for sale?,'' said Labour Leader David Shearer.
"I've asked John Key about it in the House, and he has repeatedly dodged the question. That is not good enough.''
The Government is still negotiating the deal for the $350 million convention centre in downtown Auckland which Mr Key has said will create 900 jobs during the construction phase and 900 jobs when it begins operating.
However, with reports that the Government will amend the Gambling Act to allow Sky City to operate up to 500 more gaming machines, the Problem Gambling Foundation fears the expansion will drive an upsurge in gambling addiction.
Mr Key has dismissed reports of up to 500 more machines as speculation but refused to indicate what the number may be other than to say it was "a small adjustment up".
Mr Key has previously said the Auckland Council's "sinking lid" policy on gaming machines in pubs and clubs means fewer gaming machines overall.
Mr Key's spokesman today refused to say what date his offer to make a deal with Sky City was made.
Earlier this week, he said Mr Key's diary showed no scheduled meetings with Sky City representatives since July last year.
"Having said that, the Prime Minister attends numerous functions and is quite likely to have come across Sky City representatives at some stage.''
Mr Key was asked last July in a question for written answer from Green MP Sue Kedgley whether he or any of his ministers had met representatives from the casino to discuss changes to the Gambling Act.
He replied: "I attended a dinner with the Sky City board 4 November 2009 where we discussed a possible national convention centre and they raised issues relating to the Gambling Act 2003''.
Mr Key said he was unable to speak for other ministers as to whether they had met casino representatives.
Meanwhile, the convention centre has the backing of the tourism industry.
The centre would boost the economy by an estimated $90 million a year, said Tourism Industry Association New Zealand chairman Norm Thompson.
"New Zealand has been lagging behind other major international destinations, including most Australian cities, in not having a national convention centre,'' he said.
The association also called for a network of regional convention centres to support the national centre and further build the business conference market.
