A group of 20 Asian gamblers left SkyCity's Auckland casino without paying a $2.4 million debt, and it's thought they've hit other casinos.

TVNZ considered abandoning its Auckland national headquarters to make way for SkyCity Entertainment Group's $402 million international convention centre.

The profits and boom in visitor numbers from SkyCity's proposed convention centre have already been built into Auckland Council's accounts.

Approval for a VIP smoking area at Auckland's SkyCity casino has prompted a High Court challenge over testing methods.

A State sector financial whiz hired to check SkyCity's sums attacked the basis underpinning the "independent" report used by the Government to justify the convention centre deal.

SkyCity says it has been "victimised" in the debate over the Convention Centre deal, but a law change to allow increased gambling has the potential to go ahead.

Auckland's $400 million International Convention Centre has come a step closer amid heated accusations that MPs failed to vote with their conscience in backing a law change which will allow increased gambling facilities at SkyCity.

The Auckland Council has voted not to support the $400 million national convention centre for pokies deal on the eve of the Government and SkyCity signing off the deal.

SkyCity wants underground access from its Auckland casino to the City Rail Link, raising questions about whether it helped to garner Government backing for the project.

Public opinion has turned against the Government's SkyCity international convention centre deal just days before it is due to be signed off.

Matt McCarten was in an elevator with a senior gambling executive five years ago. It was a few days before John Key ousted Helen Clark's government.

The Labour argument has looked as unswerving as the windsock at Wellington airport, writes Toby Manhire.

The Government has two choices, writes Jim Evans. But each of them would need to emasculate the carefully worked out structure of the Gambling Act 2003.

Labour has confirmed four of its MPs were hosted in SkyCity's corporate box at Eden Park for the All Blacks versus France test last weekend.

The Government's pokies for convention centre deal cannot bind future governments to compensate SkyCity if the deal is revoked, leading constitutional lawyer Stephen Franks says.

New Zealand chef Peter Gordon's dine restaurant in Auckland shuts this week so the area can be gutted and the SkyCity Grand Hotel's new hotel lobby bar can be relocated there.

While SkyCity this month got the nod for its controversial $402 million Auckland convention centre, a Queenstown expansion proceeds almost entirely outside the spotlight.

New Zealanders are forecast to spend more on Lotto, casinos, racing and sports betting in the next three years.

The majority Australian-owned company will have a monopoly on casino operation in Auckland, writes Toby Manhire. It will be essentially impervious to regulation.

The one thing alternative finance minister won't be criticising in tomorrow's Budget is the Government's confirmation that it is on track to return to surplus in 2014-15.