A bill paving the way for SkyCity's $402m convention centre has passed its final reading in Parliament, but Labour says they will not be bound by the 'shonky' deal.

25 years of betting on the Melbourne Cup has finally paid off for an Auckland fish shop worker who picked the first four horses over the finish line at Flemington.

Information about the harm caused by the SkyCity convention centre deal was withheld because it was considered commercially sensitive, official papers show.

A senior equities analyst has raised questions about Labour potentially scrapping SkyCity Entertainment Group's $402 million convention centre.

Australian and New Zealand expansion will transform SkyCity Entertainment Group into a very different business in five years, shareholders have been told.

Massey University ignored warnings a study analysing the benefits of pokie grants would produce flawed results that would be used by the gaming industry as a weapon in the debate over gaming reform.

A study published by the Lion Foundation which extols the benefits of funding community projects with gambling money is course work produced by a group of Massey commerce students.

Mayor Len Brown is trying to rewrite history over his support for the SkyCity pokies-convention centre deal, says mayoral challenger John Minto.

Last night's $33-million Lotto jackpot has earned one lucky ticket holder a fortune, while $22.6 million remains unclaimed from last week's Big Wednesday jackpot.

Five numbers - plus the crucial Powerball number four - was all it took for one person to take home last night's must-win $33 million jackpot.

Gaming trusts would be forced to return more pokie machine profits to sports teams and community groups under proposed gambling reforms.

Kiwi punters have jumped ship and are backing Oracle to win the America's Cup.

Lotto players are spending thousands in the hope of hitting a jackpot that could give them enough money to buy 150 new Lamborghini sports cars.

A Lotto-winning couple who struck it big with a $15.7 million jackpot earlier this year have some simple advice for anyone who wins tonight's enormous Powerball prize - get good financial advice and keep the win quiet.

Lotto Powerball has jackpotted again, meaning this week's draw will match the $27million mark struck by supermarket worker Trevor Cooper in April last year.

More Asian people will lose their jobs and businesses if the SkyCity convention centre deal goes ahead, MPs have been told.

The Government's convention centre deal with SkyCity could see the taxpayer saddled with millions in cost overruns before building even begins, claims Labour.

"Since I've stopped I've never had so much money in my pocket. The freezer is full. The pantry is full of food. I bake and I give it away. Things do come right."

We're a nation of brilliant rugby players. Champion yachties. World-beating stone throwers. but we wouldn't be any of that without being a nation of gamblers.

'It's like you've farted really badly in the room." An expert who's studied the impact of using gambling proceeds in communities says raising the issue's not appreciated.

"It's heaven. It's better than sex. Then you lose, and lose big. And it's 'oh my God, what have I done'?" John tells his story about gambling addiction.

In a little over nine months Xiao Lu and her former boyfriend Zhou Zhao defrauded Hamilton's SkyCity casino of more than $50,000 .

A Chinese woman involved in a gambling scam with her ex-boyfriend and a casino worker that stole more than $50,000 has avoided a jail sentence but will be deported.

Once a blip on the national sports scene, baseball has grown its player base to about 6000. And its emergence has been funded entirely with gambling money.

Alicia sobs as she recalls the moment she realised her life had to change. She was spending up to 20 hours a week at the pokies, losing between $300 and $400.

The Mt Wellington Warriors league club made a stand against pokie money. But when it couldn't raise revenue, it faced a stark reality - take the trust money or go bust.

"If Basketball NZ didn't receive TAB income I shudder to think." Basketball has become the country's betting sport of choice, with $46.8m wagered last year.

Sport in NZ is propped up by around $180 million in gambling revenue, creating a cycle of dependency health experts have likened to big tobacco sponsorship.

The All Blacks head to Australia tomorrow as heavy favourites with the TAB for a weekend win over the Wallabies despite losing star playmaker Dan Carter.