The Queenstown Lakes District Council has reviewed its gambling policy and succeeded in reducing the number of poker gaming machines in pubs and clubs.
The Salvation Army said the drop of available machines is an important measure to limit problem gambling.
The review only looked at class 4 gaming machines, poker machines, in pubs and clubs, and does not include machines in casinos.
"The outcome of the latest review is that the current policy is promoting and achieving the objectives of the Gambling Act 2003, and should remain unchanged," QLDC general manager corporate and regulatory Roger Taylor said.
The number of gaming machines per 1000 usually resident population over the age of 18 fell from 9.8 in September 2003 to 5.3 in January 2010.
Yet, the population of the district had grown significantly in that time.
The number of machines in the district fell 25.7% from 144 in 2003 to 107 in 2010.
However, a closer look at the figures revealed only a minor reduction recently, as there were 109 machines on sites in December 2006.
The number of licensed venues with poker machines dropped from 13 in 2003 to 11 in 2010.
Under QLDC policy, new venues can apply for consent to run up to nine machines, but only if the main purpose of the venue is licensed alcohol sales.
At the Frankton Arm Tavern, one of the district's established venues, 18 poker machines on site are seen as a bonus to the pub, helping to set the atmosphere.
"Though our TAB is more popular than the pokies, they do help bring people in.
"But for most of our patrons, it is not our main drawcard, especially as we are mostly seen a locals' pub," Frankton Arm Tavern manager Dan Crawford said.
Mr Crawford said he was very conscious of problem gambling.
"We have a good policy for keeping a keen eye out for anyone who might be having a problem with gambling, and we monitor the gaming room with staff trained to handle such problems.
"I also have a file of people, who have signed up as having gambling problems.
"They have asked us not to give them access to the pokies, and we take that seriously," he said.
Salvation Army Queenstown Corps Leader Kenneth Walker applauded those venues, which used such a self-banning system, describing the practice as "good host responsibility".
The Salvation Army runs the Oasis Centre for Problem Gambling, which provides advice and access to support and counselling.
Mr Walker said Queenstown was special in having two casinos in a relatively small town, along with a "fairly high" number of venues with gambling facilities.
Mr Taylor encouraged the community to present council with informal comments on the gaming policy by February 12.
