The number of gaming machines in Central Otago is shrinking, without any encouragement from the local authority.
The Central Otago District Council does not have a ''sinking lid'' policy but numbers of gaming machines, or pokies as they are more commonly known, are decreasing.
'' ... it is interesting to note that over the last three years, half of those premises issued with licences have voluntarily reduced the number of machines they operate,'' council environmental health officer Ray Applegarth says in a report to be discussed by the council today.
A total of 157 pokies are permitted in Central Otago at 14 venues but there are now 133 machines in operation.
The gambling industry in New Zealand appeared to have ''reached a point of maturity'', with expenditure levelling off and the total number of machines and venues in decline, he said.
The introduction of new laws in 2004 aimed at reducing and preventing gambling harm appeared to be one of the key factors contributing to this change, through increasing compliance costs to operate pokie gambling venues.
However, in Central Otago, there were about 74 pokies per 10,000 residents, ''far higher'' than the national average of about 40 pokies per 10,000 residents.
Rural territorial authorities tended to have a higher-than-average pokie-to-resident ration because of lower population densities and greater dispersal of venues, Mr Applegarth said.
He recommended the council's gambling venue policy, due for review, should be ''rolled over'' with the inclusion of a clause covering the number of pokies being shifted from venue to venue.
They should be allowed up to the maximum number of pokies approved at the time they closed the former venue, he said.
The council will seek feedback on any policy changes.
