By Tim Jensen·Senior Venue Researcher·Last reviewed April 2026
The Gisborne region has no licensed casino. It hosts 11 DIA-licensed pokie venues — 10 within Gisborne city and 1 at Ruatoria on the East Coast — running a combined ~160 pokies machines under the Gambling Act 2003. Gisborne is the most geographically isolated major pokies market in the North Island.
Is There a Licensed Casino in the Gisborne Region?
No. Gisborne residents and visitors travel to SkyCity Hamilton for the nearest licensed casino — roughly a 5-hour drive west through State Highway 2 and the Bay of Plenty. The Gambling Act 2003 caps national casino licences at six and none sit in Gisborne. All DIA-licensed venues in the region are Class 4 pokie venues hosted in pubs and clubs.
Where Are the Pokie Venues in Gisborne?
Gisborne city holds 10 of the region’s 11 pokie venues, spread across the CBD, Kaiti, and Elgin suburbs. Ruatoria on the East Coast has 1 pokie venue serving the northern coast community. Smaller East Coast settlements including Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay don’t currently host licensed pokie venues. Full per-venue detail is on the Gisborne city directory above.
Licensing and Regulation in Gisborne
All pokie venues in the Gisborne region operate under Class 4 licences issued by the Department of Internal Affairs under the Gambling Act 2003. Territorial consent sits with Gisborne District Council, which runs a unified city-and-district council (the only unitary authority covering an entire region). The council operates its own Class 4 venue policy. The $2.50 per-spin stake cap and 18-machine-per-venue cap apply across every licensed venue.
Play Responsibly in Gisborne
If gambling is affecting you or someone close to you in the Gisborne region, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 — free, confidential, and available 24/7. The Problem Gambling Foundation delivers counselling and harm-reduction services across the East Coast, with Māori-specific services delivered in partnership with Ngāti Porou and other iwi providers. Every licensed pokie venue must display Gambling Helpline signage on the gaming floor and support single-venue self-exclusion on request. See responsible gambling for the full list.
