Slots to
Show Pop-up Messages
Slot machines owned by Sky
City Entertainment Group Ltd., New Zealand's largest
gambling company, and other companies will be required
to show pop-up messages telling consumers how much
they've won or lost.
The messages, which will also remind gamblers how
long they've been playing on a slot machine, will
interrupt play for 15 seconds, according to a statement
from the Department of Internal Affairs, e-mailed
to Bloomberg. The warnings will pop up at intervals
of as much as 30 minutes, it said.
New Zealand's government is increasing curbs on
gambling because it says 2.5 percent of the population
are problem gamblers who contribute to about NZ$2
billion ($1.4 billion) in annual gaming losses.
Auckland-based Sky City reported on Aug. 22 that
second-half earnings growth stalled because of government
curbs on smoking and gaming.
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