Firm making poker machines for clubs
PA Auckland Electronic poker machines are being made in Auckland. Video 2000 N.Z., Ltd, plans to have 50 of its machines set up in rugby, rugby league, and soccer clubs' in Auckland in the next few days. Controversy may surround the introduction of the machines, which, at the cost of 20 cents a play, can return to a player an entitlement to a jackpot of “goods to the value” of up to $5O. The managing director of
the firm, Mr T. L. Marusich, said that during the next month or so about 600 of the machines would be distributed round Auckland clubs.
The company planned to export hundreds of the machines — each worth about $2500 — to Australia and, possibly, Papua New Guinea. While Mr Marusich is confident about the legality question of the machines, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet), whose department is responsible for polic-
ing gaming laws, has sounded a warning. Mr Highet asserted that the Auckland firm was taking a risk by making the machines without first obtaining departmental approval.
“It is taking the risk on the ground that it will be able to prove it is legal,” he said. ■ “It is a most unusual way to go about it. It certainly has had no go-ahead from Internal Affairs.”
However, Mr Marusich said that his company, a subsidiary of the Sydneybased firm of Video International, obtained Internal Affairs permission in about December last year to go ahead with the project. Officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry had refused to allow the company to import certain machine parts until Internal Affairs gave approval, he said.
Mr Marusich said that he and one of his Australian partners went to Wellington for talks, and officials from Internal Affairs had been to Auckland to discuss his project.
Mr Marusich said the machine was basically a game of chance. Clubs were entitled to sell raffle tickets for prizes up to the value of $5O. “Our tickets are the machine,” he said. “The machine takes the place of tickets in .a raffle.” 4
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Press, 4 June 1982, Page 7
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349Firm making poker machines for clubs Press, 4 June 1982, Page 7
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