The Waitaki District Council is to take another look at its gambling and TAB venues policy, including whether TAB outlets in its district should be allowed gaming machines.
It had decided to continue with its existing policy from three years ago, but put that out for public submissions to see what people thought.
Six submissions were received and heard on October 29, and this week the council's customer services committee considered those and whether changes should be made.
One issue was whether TAB outlets should be allowed gaming machines, and where proceeds from those should go.
Some councillors asked whether it would be legal not to allow gaming machines in the outlets and, if they were allowed, whether the council could direct where the proceeds went.
Cr Peter Garvan said if the TAB had machines and the money was returned to racing, other venues could be affected and less money would go to ''hundreds of small groups'' in the community.
In its submissions, the TAB, through the New Zealand Racing Board, suggested policies for gambling venues and TAB venues should be separated.
That would mean the TAB venues policy was considered on its own merits, was legally and technically correct and was only relevant to the TAB.
Policy and communications manager Fraser Liggett said that request was reasonable.
Customer services group manager Richard Mabon said the TAB policy covered where outlets could be established in the district, while the gaming machines policy was where gaming machines should be allowed and how.
Submissions had also been received from Clubs New Zealand Limited, the Lion Foundation, the New Zealand Community Trust, the Oamaru Club and the Southern District Health Board.
The health board identified issues with gambling and wanted further harm-prevention measures included in the policy, but Cr Jim Hopkins believed that was the board's obligation, not the council's at its cost. The committee agreed such measures should not be included.
However, at the request of other submitters, it supported including that gaming machines could be retained if premises were relocated or clubs merged, providing criteria were met.
It asked for further information on TAB venues being allowed gaming machines.
All local authorities are required by the Local Government Act to have gambling and TAB venue policies and review them every three years.
This year the council decided there had been no substantive issues since it was adopted and there was no basis for any changes.
