According to local reports, the New Zealand lottery, Lotto NZ, is planning a third weekly draw and a significant acceleration of its online gaming options, But the Otago Daily Times has reported that these as yet unapproved proposals are causing concerns amongst social agencies, worried by a continuing rise in the cost of living.
Documents obtained by the Otago Daily Times show the New Zealand Lotteries Commission (Lotto NZ) is in the process of procuring a gaming system replacement, with a view to expanding its range of digital products. Calls for expressions of interest in the contract note the potential for expanding the number of games that Lotto NZ can offer, pending the government’s online gambling review.
Lotto NZ wishes to migrate retail players online as much as possible and is also asking contractors to provide a wider choice of online gaming options.
Laura Black, Southern Director of the Methodist Mission, responded by saying: “I think you’ve got the risk that something that looks like it’s designed for middle-class people to have a fun flutter is actually sucking in people who’ve got quite a bit more desperation than that.”
Lotto NZ has stated that the documents do not represent concrete plans and that changes to games must go through a thorough and robust process that includes ministerial approval.
