New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs will monitor gaming machines in pubs and clubs around the country with special electronic devices

New Zealand keeps an eye on slot machines

New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs announced their plan to monitor all of the 22,000 gaming machines in pubs and clubs around the country with special electronic devices within two-and-a-half years.

According to some local resources, cited by Casinocitytimes.com, the authorities have already taken the first step forward. The Department has recently received several proposals to implement an electronic monitoring system.

Peter Burke, acting director of the Gaming and Censorship Regulation Group, commented on the problem: "It expected some gaming machine societies would connect their machines as part of a pilot next year, with all venues connected by March 2007.”

"The department estimates the societies make a gross profit of $1 billion a year in banknotes and coins, on a turnover of about $9 billion. At present, record-keeping is done manually, from meter readings. Societies pay 33 per cent in tax and levies, and must return at least 33 per cent to the community”, Peter Burke added.