Gambling venue

2.1 TAB venues are defined in the Racing Industry Act 2020 as those premises that are owned or leased by the TAB NZ and where the main business carried out at the premises is providing racing betting, sports betting, or other racing or sports betting services.

2.2 Council uses a ‘sinking lid’ approach to TAB venues. Therefore, Council will not grant consent for:

• The establishment of any additional TAB venues or additional gaming machines, including Class 4 machines in TAB venues under this policy.
• The re-establishment of a TAB venue with or without gaming machines once a licence is no longer held for that venue and territorial authority consent is required.

Note

This situation usually applies when no licence has been held by TAB NZ for a particular TAB venue within the previous six months.

3.1 Class 4 gambling is the term used in the Gambling Act 2003 to describe non-casino gaming machines (pokies) and the premises that are used to operate those machines.

3.2 Council uses a ‘sinking lid’ approach to Class 4 venues and gaming machines. Therefore, Council will not grant consent for:

• the establishment of any additional Class 4 venues or additional gaming machines, including Class 4 machines in TAB venues under this policy.
• the re-establishment of a Class 4 venue or a TAB venue with gaming machines once a licence is no longer held for that venue and territorial authority consent is required.

Note

This situation usually applies when no licence has been held by any society for a particular Class 4 venue within the previous six months.

4.1 Council may only permit the relocation of existing class 4 venues where earthquake strengthening is required, and the premises cannot continue to operate at that site.

4.2 Any application to relocate a current venue will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval will be at the discretion of the Council. Any new location will be subject to the following conditions:

• The application for relocation will be publicly notified.
• The venue operator of the new location shall be the same as the former location.
• The maximum number of Class 4 gambling machines shall not exceed the number approved at the former location and are subject to any restrictions applicable under the Act.

4.3 Class 4 venues may only be established on relocation in the Inner Commercial Zone as defined by the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan. This is subject to:

• The venue being at least 100m from any sensitive sites(1) including educational facilities(2), spiritual facilities(3), recreational facilities(4), and automatic teller machines.
• Meeting application fee requirements.

Related information

(1)Sensitive sites are defined as areas, premises or facilities that are either considered more sensitive to alcohol-related harm, or are already experiencing greater levels of alcohol related harm than other areas as determined by the DLC. Such sites are educational institutions, spiritual facilities, marae and recreational facilities.

(2) Educational Facilities are defined as early-learning and child-care facilities, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and institutions delivering educational services for vulnerable groups such as unemployed, youth or disabled groups.

(3) Spiritual Facilities are defined as a building or part of a building used primarily for public and private worship, or for religious purposes, including ceremonies, services, instruction or education, or for meetings or social functions directly related to the work of a religious organisation, and includes all land which is held for any of the foregoing purposes.

(4) Recreational facilities are defined as including parks, reserves, skate parks, youth centres and libraries.

5.1 In the case of clubs only, when two or more clubs wish to merge physically and legally in terms of section 95 of the Gambling Act 2003, they may be allowed to operate the sum of the number of gaming machines specified in all the clubs’ Class 4 venue licences at the time of application or 10 machines, whichever is the lesser.

6.1 Visual

• Only one sign(*) may make reference to the existence of Class 4 gambling, and may be visible from the street or other public space, this sign shall not mimic or replicate the operation of Class 4 machines;
• No other sign shall promote or identify the existence on site, of Class 4 machines; and
• Advertising signs and activities within the building associated with the operation of Class 4 machines shall not be visible from beyond the property boundary.

6.2 Sound

• The operation of Class 4 gambling machines shall not be audible from beyond the property boundary of the venue.

Related information

(*) Sign: As defined by the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan

Any advertising device or advertising matter, whether consisting of a specially constructed device or structure, or painted, printed, written, carved or projected onto, placed or otherwise fixed to or upon any premises, building, structure or stationary vehicle that is visible from any public place and shall include community signs, permanent signs, portable signs and temporary signs.

7.1 Applications

• Applications for a territorial authority consent under the Gambling Act 2003 and Racing Industry Act 2020 must be made on the approved form and must provide to the satisfaction of Council:
• Name and contact details of the applicant.
• Street address and exterior photograph of the premises proposed for merger.
• A copy of the proposed Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy, including the staff training programme and details of how underage access and use will be controlled effectively. Note: Any liquor licence details should be included.
• Sufficient evidence to confirm gambling will not be the venue’s primary activity.
  • This could include:
    • 12 month business plan or budget for the establishment; and
    • A site plan covering both gambling and other activities proposed for the venue.
• Details of design and layout shall be provided to demonstrate how the venue will comply with Clause 7 of this policy.
• Signed, written approval from the verified property owner.
• Other relevant information requested by the territorial authority, or that the applicant wishes to provide.

7.2 Determining applications

Any application for territorial authority consent shall be publically notified before being considered and determined by the Regulatory Hearings Panels or Commissioners and consideration shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Whether the application complies with this policy.
• Whether the application demonstrates compliance with the relevant parts of the Gambling Act 2003 and its objectives and where applicable with the relevant parts of the Racing Industry Act 2020.
• Where there have been submissions resulting from public notification, that the views of the local community have been given high regard.
• The characteristics of that part of the Gisborne District.
• The cumulative effects of gambling on the Gisborne District as a whole are considered.

8.1 Territorial authority consent application fees will be set by the Council, and may include consideration of:

• The cost of processing the application, including any consultation and hearings related costs;
• The cost of monitoring Class 4 and TAB venues to ensure compliance with consent conditions.

A review of this policy shall be undertaken at least once every three years.

TAB venue: means premises that are owned or leased by TAB NZ and where the main business carried on at the premises is providing racing betting, sports betting, or other racing or sports betting services under the Racing Industry Act 2020.

Class 4 venue: means a place used to operate class 4 gambling as defined by the Gambling Act 2003.

Class 4 gambling: is the term used to describe non-casino gaming machines (pokies). Under the Gambling Act (2003) class 4 gambling satisfies the following criteria:

• The net proceeds from the gambling are applied to, or distributed for, authorised purposes; and
• No commission is paid to, or received by, a person for conducting the gambling; and
• The gambling, and the conduct of gambling, satisfies relevant game rules; and
• Either
  • The secretary has categorised the gambling as Class 4 gambling and not as another class of gambling; or
  • The gambling utilises or involves a gaming machine.

Club: means a voluntary association of persons combined for a purpose other than personal gain.

Inner Commercial Zone: meaning as defined in the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan.

Sign (As defined by the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan) Any advertising device or advertising matter, whether consisting of a specially constructed device or structure, or painted, printed, written, carved or projected onto, placed or otherwise fixed to or upon any premises, building, structure or stationary vehicle that is visible from any public place and shall include community signs, permanent signs, portable signs and temporary signs.