The value of SkyCity Entertainment Group could get a $200 million boost after a $402 million deal announced yesterday.

Labour and the Greens have slammed a deal announced for a new convention centre in Auckland today, saying the Government has handed SkyCity a licence to print money.

SkyCity shares have jumped after details of a controversial convention centre deal with the Government were announced today.

Details of the controversial SkyCity convention centre deal with the Government have been announced, with the listed casino operator paying $402m for the new centre.

Conceived over dinner almost four years ago, the Government's $350 million pokies-for-a-national convention centre deal with SkyCity is to be signed over breakfast today.

Internet bookmaker Tom Waterhouse may walk away clean as a whistle from the tawdry inquiry into allegations that he passed on confidential information from his trainer mother Gai to punters.

Police have appealed against the discharge given to the mother who left her children in a SkyCity Casino carpark while she and her partner gambled for two hours.

Susan Chow found herself in a hole so deep a drug overdose seemed the only escape.

The Government has been urged to introduce facial-recognition technology for poker machines to restrict problem gamblers as part of an overhaul of gambling laws.

Nearly 100 kids were found wandering by themselves in SkyCity last year, a statistic which anti-gambling advocates say proves that problem-gambling is a growing issue.

Dozens of racing clubs in the south have been ordered to hand over files as part of a Serious Fraud Office probe into pokie grants.

More than 50 long-serving TAB workers look set to lose their jobs as the agency prepares to close its Auckland phone betting centre at Ellerslie.

Instant Kiwi scratchcards have played a key part in the "normalisation of the problem," the Gambling Foundation says.

A banned poker machine addict slipped through all SkyCity's safety systems to play his way to VIP status in the casino's high-roller room - blowing $500,000 in the process.

Sarah was losing her husband. It wasn't another woman who had slipped into her life. Instead, John was taken by SkyCity casino.

Nine out of every 10 people in Auckland want cuts to the number of poker machines in the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the city.

The gambling-charity boss overseeing pokies in pubs and bars has launched a blistering attack on the problem-gambling industry.

It's a particularly nasty insult because local community groups have worked hard to reduce pokie numbers, writes John Minto.

SkyCity asked for taxpayers to pay for the marketing and promotion of the international convention centre, but the Government ruled it out.

Officials in one of Prime Minister John Key's departments disregarded Treasury advice to seek guidance in how to conduct SkyCity talks with honesty and integrity.

SkyCity got special treatment in its pitch to build the international convention centre - but nothing which will get in the way of a formal deal being struck.

SkyCity Entertainment Group was trading near an annual high yesterday, even before its lucrative convention centre deal clearance.

Prime Minister John Key is confident there is nothing in a report tomorrow on how his controversial pokies for convention centre arrangement with SkyCity was struck that will prevent the projected from going ahead.

New figures show a sharp rise in gambling problems linked to Lotto, and health officials blame big jackpots.

In the heart of the Waikato, a small health provider dared to step out from the pack. Lotto, warned Hauora Waikato, has dangers.

The amount of money dropped into New Zealand pokie machines fell by more than 3 per cent last year, according to new Government figures.