Pokie-fueled gambling addiction cost Cambridge man his marriage and savings

Thursday, 21 November 2019

It's the pokie machine's 'ching' noise that proved too tempting for Jason Rippey.

Its lights and sounds and the chance to win money was an attraction that snowballed into a full-blown decade-long gambling addiction for the Cambridge man, costing him close to $500,000.

It led to the collapse of his marriage and left him temporarily homeless.

'It was the noises - the 'ding dings' and the 'bing bings'. I played as much as I can,' he told the Gambling Commission at its hearing to determine whether SkyCity should be allowed to increase its pokie machines by 60 at its Hamilton casino.

He spoke as a witness at the hearing by the Anglican Action Mission Trust.

**READ MORE:

* SkyCity argues plans for 399 pokie machines a 'modest' increase for Hamilton casino

* Councillor says groups had 'rocks in their head' for backing pokie plans

* SkyCity and Hamilton Mayor Andrew King lock horns

* Districts divided over city appeal for funding to fight SkyCity pokie bid**

Earlier this week SkyCity described its plan to increase its Hamilton pokie machines to nearly 400 as 'modest' and was simply what punters want.

It also proposed to reduce the amount of blackjack tables it had by three from 23 to 20.

Speaking on Thursday, Rippey said frequented SkyCity's Auckland and Hamilton casinos, gambled on horse racing and used pokies at pubs around Waikato.

His addiction led him to some dark places.

'It affected me big time, wasted money, wasted time, [and] losing a lot over it.

'Any type of gambling, I was into it.'

It turned him into a negative person, a liar and a drug dealer and drug abuser, he said afterwards.

The addiction took hold before SkyCity built its Hamilton casino. Early on, he spent his money on pokie machines at pubs because that was what was available.

He then graduated to horse racing, roulette and blackjack.

'I used to love blackjack. I lived for it, slept for it, dreamed it.'

​The low point came when it led to the disintegration of his marriage and being kicked out of his house, he said.

'I had hit rock bottom, I'd been kicked out of home only with a black rubbish bag and my clothes.'

He was 40 years old and ended back at his parent's doorstep.

With their help,  Rippey was finally able to address his gambling addiction in 2017.

'I self-referred myself from casinos and pubs in the Waikato area and the Auckland casino due to me losing $300,000-$400,000 of honest, hard working money.'

He said afterwards, he estimated he lost $500,000 due to his addiction. 

He returned to the Auckland casino twice following the self-exclusion and was removed from the facility.

Rippey said the relapse was a result of him being 'weak minded'.

He said he 'could not remember once' SkyCity staff communicating with him about his addiction. The only time staff spoke to him was to offer him a drink.

But he was able to turn his life around and is now in full time employment on a beef cattle farm.

Staying positive has helped him stay away from gambling. His employment has enabled him to get his own vehicle and create some savings for himself.

He said SkyCity's plan to increase its pokie machines was wrong.

'Someone's getting filthy rich while we're suffering - the people that's going there and playing them are suffering big time - no bread in the cupboards, no kai on the table, a lot of lies, jail as well and I'd go as far to say death in the way of self-harm.'

SkyCity's application attracted 250 written submissions. The hearing continues into its fourth day on Friday.