Christchurch City Council will not allow gambling venues to transfer their machines to another venue, despite the challenges facing businesses since the earthquakes.
The council has a city-wide sinking lid policy and councillors have voted to retain the policy of not allow the transfer of pokie machines to another venue.
Twenty one of the 36 gambling venues which were damaged by the damages, remain closed.
The council has noted a spike in gambling expenditure after the earthquakes, despite the reduced number of venues and machines available.
