Dunedin Casino puts case to Gambling Commission

A former employee of the Dunedin Casino has given evidence to the Gambling Commission today that its general manager did not believe a woman who gambled away NZD 6 million over three years had a gambling problem.

A hearing is under way to decide whether the casino should have its licence suspended for failing to stop Christine Keenan’s gambling.

The Department of Internal Affairs wants the casino’s licence suspended, claiming staff failed to stop the gambling. The action is the first of its kind and is being watched carefully by the gambling industry.

The casino has three days to put its case, after Internal Affairs called witnesses in the first part of the hearing in Auckland last month.

This included a gambling inspector who said staff raised concerns about Ms Keenan’s gambling, but the casino management failed to do anything about it.

Former casino head Rod Woolley told the hearing he made some inquiries to find out if Ms Keenan could afford the level of gambling she was involved in.

She was sentenced to three years in prison in 2004 for stealing from her employer.

The law says casinos must bar people they believe have a gambling problem.