The Dept of Internal Affairs has been working with the Class 4 Sector, including Clubs New Zealand and RNZRSA to better understand and minimise the impacts of the Integrated Gaming Platform project and discuss benefits that will arise for our clubs.

There are a number of areas, especially around electronic licensing, that will have a major impact on the way clubs go about their gaming business in the future. Clubs New Zealand was given the opportunity to have an open and frank discussion with the DIA on the effect the IGP may have in regard to clubs and the differences in the way clubs and societies manage their gaming operations. Suggestions were taken seriously and hopefully this will ensure we contribute to the end result which will work well for our clubs.

The IGP is using existing infrastructure and resources wherever possible to assist in reducing costs and deliver additional business efficiencies. It will provide an integrated online system to manage all gambling activity in our clubs and improve the integrity of the Class 4 gambling sector.

It will complement the proven electronic monitoring (EMS) of gaming machines to ensure the integrity of games and the accurate accounting of money. The first results of IGP will be seen about July/August next year when the DIA and sector move from a paper-based licensing system to electronic licensing and online gaming machine approvals.

The IGP will provide the Department with a web-enabled, rules-based licensing and compliance system, improved information and grants' monitoring capability. It will give the DIA a single view of how the cash flows through the gambling sector, from money going into a pokie machine to dissemination to the community for the purposes authorised under the Act.

(SOURCE: Gambits, page 8, September 2010)