A 4-month-old baby left alone in a vehicle was among more than 140 children abandoned at New Zealand casinos in the past four years.
In most cases, parents and caregivers were found playing gaming machines, table games or bingo as the children waited outside. Figures released to the Herald on Sunday under the Official Information Act show the Department of Internal Affairs was notified of 26 unsupervised children this year.
Last month, police were called to Auckland’s SkyCity casino after a child was abandoned while his grandparents played bingo. The boy was outside the main gaming room on the casino’s third floor. Internal Affairs said most of the children abandoned since 2006 were found by casino staff in main entry areas in the evening. About a third were found between 10.30am and 6pm.
All were waiting for parents, grandparents, other relatives or family friends who were gambling on the main gaming floor. Most were playing gaming machines or table games and five were playing bingo. Some children were left for more than two hours, but in most cases they were alone for 30 minutes before they were found.
Heather McShane, from Internal Affairs’ gambling compliance group, said most children were aged 8-11. The oldest was 16 and the youngest was a 4-month-old found at SkyCity casino. McShane said the baby was found “unattended and distressed in a vehicle in the car park” early in the evening of February 9, 2009.
Patrons informed security and the baby was removed. After 18 minutes gambling, the father checked his vehicle, found the child missing and contacted casino staff.
The man was arrested and banned from returning to the casino. SkyCity spokesman Peter Treacy said the company had “zero tolerance for people leaving their children unattended to come to our place and game”. “We’re about fun and entertainment but that has to be coupled with responsibility. All employees are briefed to be on the lookout for this sort of thing.
“We have improved visibility of our signage which says areas are restricted to adults and raised a general awareness that children on their own are not acceptable.” A brochure was also available, outlining why children were not allowed in the casino and what happens to people who leave them there.
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