19 June, 2007

Call for full inquiry into loan sharks and gambling

An Internal Affairs investigation into the Christchurch casino should be widened to include the whole gambling industry says Problem Gambling Foundation CEO, John Stansfield.

Mr Stansfield says that loan sharking is endemic in the industry.

"We need a full public inquiry where people can give evidence confidentially," he says.

'The stories that could be told would make your hair stand on end.'

'We need to dig a lot deeper than the minister is proposing"

He says that the Christchurch situation is not unique and that you can find the same sort of thing at any major venue.

'Gambling and loan sharking are both based on exploiting the vulnerable. They go together like bread and butter.'

Mr Stansfield says he is not surprised at allegations of prize draw irregularities and discrepancies over gaming returns at the casino.

"You only have to look at the constant flow of people appearing before the courts for the misuse of pokie money to know that this sort of behaviour would not be unusual."
he says.

"There is a certain naivety in the governments approach to gambling. They have somehow convinced themselves that you can control an activity that has always been associated with corruption and crime without very tough laws and even tougher enforcement."

Mr Stansfield says the fact that the government allows taxpayers money to be invested in Skycity shows just how little they understand about the industry.

He says the industry is shrouded in secrecy but there is a lot that can be learned if you follow the money.

ENDS

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