ILT Chief Executive Officer Chris Ramsay and Ascot Sports Bar Manager Kim Tull stand next to the tavern’s pokies, which were shut down for two hours during Pause the Pokies initiative.
ILT Foundation Manager Lisa-Maree Fleck said “we are very aware of our social responsibility and we are committed to providing safe, enjoyable gaming venues and minimizing gambling harm. Pausing our pokies this morning allows us to show support, reiterate our commitment to our responsibilities and increase awareness for the week.”
Venue managers were also keen to join the movement, with Homestead Avenal Tavern Acting Manager Shanan Te Maiharoa saying all of the managers agreed to pause the pokies without hesitation at their last meeting.
In Invercargill $15,607,263.97 was spent on the 247 pokie machines in 17 venues over the past 12 months to June. In the city, there are 159 pokie machines per head of population aged over 18 years.
The national theme for Gambling Harm Awareness Week this year is: Take time out from gambling, put time into whanau!