1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: Kiyota. I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: a daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. SkyCity 3 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: Auckland will close its casino for five days following a 4 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: DIA investigation set to cost the company a million dollars 5 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: a day. It was prompted by a complaint from a 6 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: customer who gambled there between twenty seventeen and twenty twenty one, 7 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: with twenty three incidents where they were able to gamble 8 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: continuously without detection. This will mark the first voluntary closure 9 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: of a casino and the longest suspension of operations in 10 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: a casino under the Gambling Act. Endze Herald Property editor 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: Anne Gibson has been following this ongoing investigation for some time, 12 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: and she joins us today on the front page to 13 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: explain what this means for the country's large casino. And 14 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 1: it was in September last year that the Department of 15 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: Internal Affairs first raised that Sky City Entertainment Group could 16 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: have their operator license suspended. How long has this investigation 17 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:19,839 Speaker 1: been ongoing, Well. 18 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: The State's back quite a long way. A gambler visited 19 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: the Auckland property between August twenty seventeen in February twenty 20 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 2: twenty one, and he was there on twenty three separate 21 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: occasions which he complained about. His complaint was based on 22 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 2: the fact that he was not stopped from what is 23 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: called long play. That's when a gambler plays for many 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: hours in the casino, and that is something that the 25 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: casino must detect and must act on. Due to its 26 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: host responsibility program. 27 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: Sky City Auckland will close for five days. Five days 28 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: is a long time. What exactly is closed during that 29 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: period and how much of a loss will this be 30 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: for the casino? 31 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: The Department of Internal Affairs said the loss to income 32 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: to Scar City during that five day closure is around 33 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: five million dollars. That makes sense because we know from 34 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 2: the previous chief executive, Michael Lhern, that for every day 35 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 2: the casino was shut during the pandemic, it costs Scarcity 36 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: around about one million dollars. So that's quite a significant 37 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 2: amount of money and quite a loss to the business. 38 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: Is one million dollars a day, that big of a 39 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: punishment for a company that presumably makes a lot more 40 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: than that each year. 41 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: Yes, it's quite a shock. One of my colleagues pointed 42 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: out today that it would appear to us to be 43 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: the first time that a casino in New Zealand has 44 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: voluntarily agreed to shut for any length of time. And 45 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: of course these are big operations that run seven days 46 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 2: a week and they rely on being open and the 47 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: customers being able to walk on the door, and not 48 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 2: being able to be open is very punitive for this business. 49 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 3: Obviously, this was the first time a suspension of operation 50 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 3: has happened at a casino like this, and we applaud 51 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 3: the DIA for taking this action. You know, it does 52 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 3: send a really clear message to any gambling operator that 53 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: if they don't uphold their host responsibilities, there are consequences. 54 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: We should probably mention that it is the casino part. Hey, 55 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: that's closing. We don't have a date on when that 56 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: will happen yet, dore. 57 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 4: We no Well. 58 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 2: I talked to the Chief operating Officer, Colum Mullett. Now 59 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: I asked him about when this would occur. He said 60 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: that Scarcity is talking to the Gambling Commission about the 61 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: exact dates. He did say that it would be a 62 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: Monday to Friday, So we wondered if it would occur 63 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: over a weekend, but no, and it will start midnight 64 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 2: on the Sunday night, so that will be like twelve 65 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: oh one am on the Monday morning and then for 66 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: those five continuous days, and as I understand it, there 67 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 2: will be discussions between the company and the Gambling Commission 68 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: over the next month about exactly when this will occur. 69 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: It applies solely to the SCO City Auckland casino premises, 70 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 2: and of course that is surrounded by a number of restaurants, bars, 71 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: eateries and other businesses that operate independently of the casino. 72 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: Now not having the casino operating could potentially reduce the 73 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: customer foot traffic in that area, but those businesses are 74 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: separate and they are not controlled by the gambling laws 75 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: that only apply to the casino. And New Zealand is 76 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: pretty unusual, by the way internationally to only have one 77 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: gambling giant. Most countries like Australia or Hong Kong, the 78 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: car particularly United States, have many different gambling gaming casino businesses. 79 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: In New Zealand, we took a somewhat what would you say, 80 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,799 Speaker 2: a measured approach to this many years ago. We thought 81 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 2: we'll have some gaming, but only a little bit, and 82 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: so we'll just give it to one. It's a little 83 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: bit like Sky Television, right, So we've only given the 84 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: rights to one business to do this thing, be it 85 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: cable television or gambling. Now that is pretty unusual, and 86 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 2: you could argue from a business perspective that it's terribly 87 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: restrictive because you don't have any other business coming in 88 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 2: raising the bar or competing. 89 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: This latest development is based on identified failings of the 90 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: Auckland Host Responsibility Program. What is this and how did 91 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: they breach it? 92 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, so what happens here is that the host Responsibility 93 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 2: program is in place to ensure that sky City complies 94 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: with the law and it doesn't let people who are 95 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: addicted to gambling onto the premises and engaging in gambling 96 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: in their premises. Now, what has occurred here is this 97 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: gambler has said that on twenty three occasions there was 98 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: what is termed long play. The definition of that is 99 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: many hours at a particular game or form of entertainment 100 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: within the casino, and there are also numbers of breaks 101 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: which come into those hours. Those are also calculated. So 102 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: the idea here is to pick up people who have 103 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: unfortunately a gambling addiction and to not fuel that addiction, 104 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: so that those people suffer significant harm and their families 105 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: suffer significant harm. So that's the law in New Zealand, 106 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: and Sky City is responsible for upholding the law and 107 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: acting in a responsible way. Now, when I met Cullum Mullet, 108 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 2: he said to me, the team's gatted. He said the 109 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: business had not complied and on this occasion, and he 110 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: said on a number of occasions the company had failed 111 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: with this customer. He said for that they were deeply 112 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 2: sorry and they were being rightfully held to account as 113 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: a business. He said it was a disappointing day for 114 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: Ski City. He said, we don't turn up to work 115 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: each day to cause harm. We turn up to give 116 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 2: people a fun, exciting entertainment offering. And he said that 117 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: they were sorry that they had failed in this instance. 118 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 5: I wouldn't go into any specific details on this customer 119 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 5: except to say that there were periods of time when 120 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 5: we needed to have check ins with this customer. We 121 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 5: didn't do that appropriately. We have fixed those issues and 122 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 5: since mid twenty twenty one we've been going through a 123 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 5: risk transformation program. But on a number of occasions we 124 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 5: failed and for that we're deeply sorry and being rightfully 125 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 5: held to account. 126 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: This agreement between the DIA and sky City means the 127 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: Gambling Commission will consent to withdrawal of the press. What 128 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: could have happened if this five day stop work didn't happen, it. 129 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: Could have potentially been more serious for the company that 130 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: had proceeded. So this is an agreement. Struck and Skar 131 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: City executives today did stress to me that this was voluntary, 132 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: that this was not something that was being imposed on 133 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 2: them by the DEA, that this was something that they 134 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: had agreed to, and Culmen Mullett of course front footed 135 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: it quite naicely too. He talked about the improvements and 136 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: he said that since twenty twenty one the company had 137 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: implemented a risk transformation program. Now then even into quite 138 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: a lot of detail about that, which was quite interesting. 139 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 2: He said that there are more than one hundred staff 140 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: within New Zealand properties that are focused on host responsibility 141 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: and also anti money laundering and counter terrorism obligations which 142 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: sky City has to buy buy as well. Now, one 143 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 2: thing that he mentioned which is quite controversial and most 144 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: interesting is a facial recognition technolog which Scar City is 145 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 2: operating now. When you are in the public areas of 146 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: their Auckland Casino building. Images of your face can be 147 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 2: seen the technology is being used and also on the 148 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: main gaming floor that is operating as well. And also 149 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: this facial recognition technology operating at the ATM machines so 150 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 2: that the business is alerted if people make constant cash 151 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: withdrawals or they have been within the property for an 152 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 2: extended period of time. So I know a lot of 153 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 2: people don't like facial recognition technology. They think it's an 154 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 2: invasion of their privacy. But of course from scar City's 155 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: point of view, this is one of the measures that 156 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: they are using to ready keep tabs on people there. 157 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: Perhaps an even more interesting measure is coming in. It's 158 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 2: called a no card, no play system. So scar City 159 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 2: is going to introduce a card system. 160 00:09:58,360 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 4: Now. 161 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: These operate properties like the Crown casinos in Australia, and 162 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 2: what you do is you go and sign up for 163 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: your card from the casino and you load that up 164 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: with money. All your details are on there, and of 165 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: course the company is then tracking you even more so 166 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: if you are in the property for an extended period 167 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: of time and engaging in say long play, the pokeing 168 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: machine that you're at will lock up. You won't be 169 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: able to continue playing. So color Mullett said that will 170 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: help to monitor people's play and spend. But he says 171 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 2: it really importantly as well, the player themselves will be 172 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: able to monitor what they're doing and how much they're spending. Now, 173 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: this card system is due to come in round about 174 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 2: July next year, and that makes a lot of sense 175 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 2: from both sides point of view. No card, no play, 176 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: and I think that could be a big step board 177 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 2: in terms of the host responsibility program and also in 178 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: terms of both the players and the gaming giant. 179 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: So you spoke to Callum Mallett, he's the company's COO. 180 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: I also understand sky City's new CEO, Jason Woolbridge, only 181 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: started work three days ago. 182 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 2: Yes, it was very interesting. There was a significant popherry 183 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: held in his and his family's honor outside the main 184 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: Auckland building last Friday, and he actually started work on 185 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 2: Monday this week. So they talked quite a lot at 186 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: skar City today about what he's doing. He's now in 187 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: the office and in the next couple of weeks he 188 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: will be visiting properties throughout New Zealand that sky City 189 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 2: operate and meeting staff and getting to know the bussiness. 190 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: So this is quite a significant step forward after the 191 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 2: loss of Michael O'Hearn who's returned to Ireland, who saw 192 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 2: the company through a really difficult phase through COVID when 193 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 2: the property was shut and through a lot of staff layoffs, 194 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 2: through a long period of time when the union was 195 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 2: unhappy about cuts and about what was occurring. And I 196 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 2: think that most people would say that Michael O'Hearn did 197 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: a pretty good job. Of course, Michael o'hearne arrived after 198 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 2: the quite sudden departure of Graham Stevens. His resignation left 199 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: people very surprised. He left in a very short period 200 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 2: of time and there was no explanation. So Michael a'hearn 201 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: was in charge of the business over quite a long 202 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: period of time and despite COVID, over a relatively settled 203 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: period of time. 204 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: All of this also follows a big penalty for the 205 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: group over in Australia, Hey seventy million dollars over alleged 206 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: breaches of anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing laws. 207 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: What can you tell us about that. 208 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 2: Well, wet money, money that had been buried, money that 209 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 2: smelled of dirt. This was a real bombshell when we 210 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: got a big document from Australia which talked about the 211 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: people in scarcity Adelaide accepting money that they plainly should 212 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 2: not have been accepting. I'm talking about wet money, as 213 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 2: in literally it was wet like tatwater. I have had 214 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: to explain that to a few people because they're so astonished. 215 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: And also money that had plainly been buried, So it. 216 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: Wasn't just metaphorically dirty. 217 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 2: No, it wasn't. And it wasn't wet because it had 218 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 2: been laundered. It was wet because someone had dug it 219 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: out of the ground presumably and it smelt of dirt 220 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: and had dirt on it. That information was contained in 221 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 2: documents after an investigation by ATZAC and Australia. Now what 222 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 2: happened there was there were people who were gambling at 223 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 2: the Adelaide casino whose jobs did not equate with the 224 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 2: tens of millions of dollars in some cases that they 225 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 2: were spending. So you know, it's up to casinos to 226 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 2: ensure that the money that is going through them does 227 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: not breach as you said, you know, counter tourism, anti 228 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: money laundering laws, and in this case, sci City had 229 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: a big problem to address there, somewhat like this situation 230 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 2: in Auckland with a five DIA closure, but a very 231 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: serious and very full investigation finding many problems with what 232 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 2: had occurred there, and again scar City says that it 233 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: has improved it has systems in place to ensure this 234 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: doesn't occur. 235 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: Adlai Casino's operators have been slabbed with a sixty seven 236 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: million dollar fine for breaking anti money law rules. 237 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 4: Sky City executive chairman Julian Cook said, we acknowledge that 238 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 4: as a casino operator we play a key role in 239 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 4: combating money laundering and terrorism financing. We except we have 240 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 4: failed to live up to the standard required of us, 241 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 4: and for this I apologize. 242 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: Do you think the culture within casinos and those kind 243 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: of outlets has changed quite a bit over the years. 244 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: I guess gone are the days where we hear casinos 245 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: not having clocks available because they want people to gamble more, 246 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: or no windows so no daylight comes in, so you 247 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: don't know how long you've been there. I mean, we've 248 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: all heard those stories, right. It seems like there's a 249 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: markedly big shift because there is that pressure on casinos 250 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: to recognize that gambling is an addiction. 251 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 4: Is. 252 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: It's interesting you mentioned the no windows because I have 253 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 2: talked to property investors about some shopping centers not looking 254 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: out either having no windows, and a bit like the 255 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: same concept of time just vanishes. And there's so much 256 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 2: to do there, right, It's so much fun. And I 257 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: have been to Macaw a number of times and seen 258 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 2: the incredibly lavish premises there and you know, the drinks, 259 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: the food, the entertainment, the fun. I had a relative once. 260 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: It was at Scarcity, very late at night when someone 261 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: won a jackpot and there was a lot of lights 262 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 2: and chairing and excitement, and a lot of people go there. 263 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 2: As I understand it. I'm not interested in gambling myself, 264 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: but a lot of people go there for the fun 265 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 2: and the entertainment and the joy and the amusement that 266 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 2: that brings them. And look, I can understand that from 267 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: that point of view. I think in terms of the culture, 268 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: what you're getting at there is really government led initiatives 269 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: to ensure harmonimization. So the businesses that did operate in 270 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: a more or less a fair way, they're no longer 271 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: able to do that internationally. And also the idea that 272 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 2: people would enter these premises and just carry on spending 273 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: and perhaps unfortunately losing. That is not something that is 274 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: tolerated under our laws in terms of being in the 275 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 2: premises for an extended period of time, or being in 276 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 2: the premises, being on the premises, if you've been trespassed, 277 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 2: if you've been banned, if you've been found to have 278 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 2: an addiction, you know you shouldn't be there. So all 279 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 2: those sort of measures are in place to minimize harm. 280 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:39,479 Speaker 2: That is the point that color Mullet was making today, 281 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 2: the scarcity. People don't go to work to cause harm. 282 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 2: They go to work because they want their customers to 283 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: enjoy themselves. That's the point I was making to me. 284 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Anne. That's it for this episode 285 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: of The Front Page. You can read more about today's 286 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: stories and extensive news coverage at enziherld dot co dot nz. 287 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: The Front Page is produced by Ethan Sills and sound 288 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: engineer Patti Fox. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to The Front 289 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 290 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: tune in on Monday for another look behind the headlines.