The council this week discussed a submission on proposed changes to the Gambling Act which would reward pokie operators with three-year operating licences for displaying good practice.
Cr Andrew Whiley was concerned a hardline approach would create a greater negative impact on the community than intended.
"I am really fearful of [poker machines] disappearing altogether ... take it away and they will disappear underground, they will disappear to their bedrooms, living rooms, their devices and their credit cards — and the money will go offshore," he said.
Cr Whiley said he was in two minds about supporting the council’s submission on the new system because of this.
"As soon as you start driving that underground and having people use their credit cards on the computer ... the impact is going to be dramatically more," he said.
Cr Christine Garey answered his concerns, and reminded the council they were there to approve a submission on the proposed changes, not to outlaw or stop pokie gambling.
"What we’re discussing today is not prohibition of anything."
The proposals instead aimed to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling by only allowing trusted venues to provide the services.
She said it was important the council supported the submission under their obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi — as Māori were disproportionately affected by gambling and often did not access community funds made from the proceeds.
She said 38% of Māori slots players experienced gambling harm, compared with 12% non-Māori.
Council Māori, partnerships and policy general manager Jeanette Wikaira confirmed the communities most affected by the practice did not access those funds.
"Many Māori and Pacific groups don’t ever apply for that funding because they don’t fundamentally believe in assessing that fund for their kaupapa," she said.
The council voted to approve the submission in support of the Department of Internal Affairs proposed system 14-1.
Cr Whiley voted in favour and Cr Bill Acklin was the only councillor to vote against the submission.
