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New research shows New Zealand has a growing problem with gambling.
The latest Massey University study has found that more than 70,000 New Zealanders are struggling with gambling.
The study says poker machines are at the heart of the crisis, causing 80% of the problem.
David Coom from the Problem Gambling Foundation says a maximum return of $1 from $3 doesn't compensate for the harm caused.
He would like to see communities have the right to choose whether they have pokie machines or not.
However latest figures of the the final quarter of 2008, indiacte the amont New Zelanders was actually down.
Department of Internal Affairs figures released on Thursday showed spending had dropped by nearly 1% from the previous quarter, from $232.3 million at September 30 to $230.7m at December 31.
The figures also showed a more significant drop of 6% from the same period in 2007.
The electronic monitoring of 20,000 non-casino gaming machines became fully operational in March 2007 enabling the department to track and monitor operations.
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