The Timaru District Council is reviewing the Gambling Venue Policy and consultation is now open.

The policy enables Councils to ensure that local gambling rules reflect the views and needs of their communities, within the confines of the Gambling Act 2003 and the Racing Industry Act 2020. The current policy can be found here.

Council is proposing to rollover the existing policy without amendment. This is because the current policy appears to be striking an appropriate balance between minimising problem gambling harm while enabling the legitimate participation in gambling. This view is also consistent with the findings from the independent Social Impact Assessment that Council commissioned earlier in the year.

The Council is now asking the community to submit their feedback. Feedback can be provided by completing the online feedback form here, or by physically completing the submission form and returning it to Council.

Further information, including an overview of alternative options, can be found here.

Submissions close Friday 11 November at 5pm.