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Dunedin Casino Faces Suspension Over Problem Gambler

Dunedin Casino's license is facing a suspension from the Department of Internal Affairs after gambler Christine Keenan lost an average of $30,000 a month.

A hearing in Auckland against Dunedin Casino was adjourned by the Gambling Commission this afternoon, August 4 and moved until September 11. The counsel is said to arrange for a former casino employee to give sufficient evidences.

Mark Woolford, Department of Internal Affairs, had presented evidence from the witness in the form of writing early this afternoon. But Tom Weston QC, the casino's lawyer, wanted an equal opportunity to cross examine the ex-employee.

Mr. Weston defended the casino. He said that it is not the casino's fault for Ms. Keenan's gambling problem, but the National manager of casino compliance for Department of internal Affairs Deborah Despard insisted that the casino management should detect an obvious sign that their players, specifically Ms. Keenan, was a problem gambler already, which the casino management failed to do so.

If the commission rules against Dunedin Casino, it could be suspended for up to six months.

Ms. Keenan was reported to have sold her house to feed her gambling problem. She used her marriage settlement money, spent her inheritance and stole from her employer, a total of $6 million from 2001-2004.

Ms Keenan was in jail since her arrest at August 2004 for 11 counts of theft.

John Stansfield, Foundation chief executive, said the hearing should be a lesson to all gambling establishments' operators to intervene with problem gamblers. He said, "There is a victim suffering in prison, there is a family suffering in the community."