Pokie machine spending in Northland spikes after lockdown
23 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Raewyn Flay from the Kaitaia Community House thinks the number of pokie machines in her locality needs to come down.
Photo / Supplied
Imran Ali is a reporter for the Northern Advocateimran.ali@nzme.co.nznorthernadvocat
Northlanders spend on pokies in pubs and clubs more than doubled after Covid restrictions were lifted, even after a decrease in the number of electronic gaming machines around the region. Figures from the Department of Internal Affairs show Northlanders sank $10.4m in gaming machines at the end of the September quarter compared with $4.2m the previous quarter.