Prime Minister John Key says he doesn't have a problem with Christchurch Casino using his appearance on an American TV show to promote its pokie machine business.
Mr Key was on The Late Show with David Letterman a fortnight ago when he was in New York and he read out the top 10 reasons for visiting New Zealand, thought up by the show's writers.
One of them was that New Zealand had "the loosest slot machines in the Pacific rim".
The casino is using the line in its advertising.
Asked about that at his press conference today, Mr Key said the whole purpose of going on the show was to promote New Zealand.
"I'm not going to get too righteous about it. We have gambling in New Zealand, that's a statement of fact," he said.
Casino chief executive Brett Anderson said the advertising could benefit New Zealand.
"If you look at the numbers who go to Las Vegas or any other gaming destination, if we could get a percentage of those to come down to New Zealand it would be great for everybody."
Mr Key said it cost about $1 million for a 30-second advertising slot on the show.
He was on screen for about four minutes.
"In my view that vindicates my decision to go on it, and if that helps promote New Zealand business, that's largely a good thing."
Letterman has since become embroiled in a scandal about affairs with female staff members and a bizarre blackmail plot.
Mr Key said he didn't know anything about that when he went on the show but he had read the reports.
"The top 10 takes on a completely different perspective...I thought they were abstract concepts."
