Green Party Unhappy with Online Gambling

March 31, 2008

The Green Party is upset with the government as they say that online gambling should be discouraged, not encouraged. They have a problem with the online Lotto sales that have been offered, and they say that it is simply one more way to “encourage high risk gambling” and they want it stopped.

The statement came after Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker announced that they would be offering New Zealand Lotteries the chance to participate in online gambling through the lotto. They can offer Big Wednesday, Keno, Lotto, Powerball and Strike through the internet.

However, those that are opposed to online gambling say that this is a mistake. They say that it will simply open the door to more problem gambling. The Green Party said that it was “reprehensible” that they would support online gambling with the lottery’s offerings. They believe that this goes directly against the 2003 Gambling Act.

They are concerned that those that already have a disposition to online gambling addiction will now get worse because it is so readily available. They say that with the advent of computers online gambling became more accessible to people who otherwise would not have been able to participate.

However, Barker claims that there will be safeguards to keep people from spending so much money. They will have to log in to the online gambling site, and they can only have one account. They will also be able to set their own monthly or weekly spending limits. The Green Party says that is not enough.

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