UPDATE: POKER ROOM CLOSED

Skycity Pokies Images

In addition to our tournaments, cash games are also available on demand in the Poker Room at SkyCity Auckland (subject to table availability and the number of participants). For tournament or registration enquiries, please phone (09) 363 6190 to speak to a Table Games Operations Manager or email poker@skycity.co.nz. This world class cracker casino is a part of “Skycity Entertainment Group”, a reputed company which has been providing top-notch poker machine gaming and facilities for its visitors over many years. Get to know the SKYCITY Casino Auckland: This casino is situated in the “Corner Victoria and Federal Streets of New Zealand”. SkyCity has announced that it has let go 700 more staff members amid the coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand is one of the countries that identified and contained COVID-19 most quickly and effectively. Its response to the pandemic was swift and thorough, but hasn’t been enough to spare more job losses at the casino, which has venues in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Following the advice from the New Zealand Ministry of Health, SkyCity Auckland has put in place a number of additional social distancing measures to keep people safe.

For this reason, the Poker Room will be closed until further notice.

We appreciate your understanding.

R20 Game Responsibly.

You will now need to be a Premier Rewards cardholder to participate in our poker tournaments. Click here to sign up

Try the thrill and excitement of Poker - the king of card games. With a set outlay and the duration undetermined, tournament poker is a fun way to learn the ins and outs of this popular game!

We are excited to announce that online registration and payment is available for selected Poker tournaments. To register online, click the ‘Register Now’ button (where available) under the tournament listing and follow the online instructions.

Sky City Pokies

To register for any of our daily tournaments, you’ll need to visit the Poker Room at SkyCity Auckland and register in person on the day of the relevant tournament (but no earlier than 2 hours before the stated start time).

In addition to our tournaments, cash games are also available on demand in the Poker Room at SkyCity Auckland (subject to table availability and the number of participants).

For tournament or registration enquiries, please phone (09) 363 6190 to speak to a Table Games Operations Manager or email poker@skycity.co.nz.

SkyCity, which is the main casino operator in New Zealand is bargaining with the gaming regulator to get more pokie machines in its Hamilton casino. In exchange, it is willing to close down several blackjack tables. Aussies and Kiwis use the term “pokie” to refer to slot machines which is the term used in the United States.

According to SkyCity, the demand for pokie playing rises during Fridays and Saturdays as well as during the holidays. The current number of pokie machines is not enough to meet the demand of visitors especially during weekends and holidays. This is why the casino operator is pushing to increase its pokie presence by 60 machines.

The operator is willing to shut down three blackjack tables in return. Should the gaming regulator approve the request, the final result would be 399 pokie machines and 20 blackjack tables in the casino.

Skycity pokies pics

Sky City Pokies Images

This is the first time that such an exchange proposal has been put forward. SkyCity will have to prove that 60 pokies are worth three blackjack tables. The current laws already allow for gaming machines to substitute for table games but the company wants to make a precedent for the substitution.

The SkyCity legal team state that the exchange is a straightforward proposal and does not need a lot of equations to see if they balance out. SkyCity states that the 60 players for 60 pokie machines equal the 20 or so players for each blackjack table.

Stumbling Blocks

Sky City Pokies

Skycity Pokies Pictures

Sky

Sky City Pokies Pics

However, there are several stumbling blocks to the request. For one, critics are pointing out that the increase in pokies will draw more customers than the loss of the three blackjack tables will cause. This means that it would not be an equal exchange between the two. Yet another factor to consider is that players will be wagering more on these 60 pokies than what they would wager on their own at blackjack tables.

The opposition to this proposal is strong, with over 250 written public submissions objecting to the increase in pokie machines. It does not help that SkyCity has been criticized in the past for its handling of problem gamblers, with a recent sting operation highlighting the operator’s lack of responsibility.

The pokie vs. blackjack table trade off will be up for hearing in the next few days so that both sides can present their arguments.

Skycity Pokies On Instagram

David is our resident 'down under' contributor, letting us know what is going on in the southern hemisphere, he is also keen blackjack player