Pokies in Christchurch: Venues and Gaming Machines
At the end of June 2026, 73 venues in Christchurch held licences for 1,219 gaming machines (pokies), according to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). A year earlier the district had 76 venues and 1,237 machines, a net change of 3 fewer venues. Below is every licensed pokie venue in Christchurch, with its address, venue type and number of machines, followed by what players lost on those machines.
Pokie venues in Christchurch
| Venue and address | Type | Machines |
|---|---|---|
| Miller Bar & Cafe 308 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch 8024 | Tavern | 8 |
| The Addington Bar 291 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch 8024 | Tavern | 18 |
| Madeira Hotel 48 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa 7520 | Hotel | 10 |
| The Grand Hotel (Akaroa) 6 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, Canterbury 7520 | Hotel | 12 |
| Bickertons Bar 307 Pages Road, Aranui, Christchurch 8007 | Tavern | 18 |
| Avonhead Tavern 120 Withells Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042 | Tavern | 18 |
| Merrin Street Brewery Bar Shop 4/5, Avonhead Shopping Centre, 210 Withells Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8004 | Tavern | 18 |
| Armadillo’s Beckenham 155 Colombo Street, Beckenham, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 18 |
| Armadillos Belfast 812 Main North Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8005 | Tavern | 18 |
| Belfast Tavern 899 Main North Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8051 | Tavern | 18 |
| Bishop Brothers Public House 119 Farrington Avenue, Bishopdale, Christchurch 8053 | Tavern | 18 |
| Papanui Club 310 Sawyers Arms Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch 8053 | Commercial Club | 18 |
| Tavern Harewood Bar and Grill Parkside Plaza, 333 Harewood Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch 8005 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Little Brown Jug 290 Wairakei Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch 8005 | Tavern | 18 |
| Glenbyre Tavern 111 Keighleys Road, Bromley, Christchurch 8062 | Tavern | 18 |
| Cashmere Club 88 Hunter Terrace, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022 | Cosmopolitan Club | 18 |
| Bailies Bar & Restaurant 1066 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8001 | Tavern | 10 |
| Bar 185 183 Manchester Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| Schnitz & Co 31 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8001 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Rockpool 85 Hereford Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| Schroeder’s Tavern 680 Barbadoes Street, Edgeware, Christchurch 8013 | Tavern | 18 |
| Armadillos Halswell 29 Ensign Street, Halswell, Christchurch 7674 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Halswell 344 Halswell Road, Halswell, Christchurch 7674 | Hotel | 18 |
| The Valley Inn 2 Flavell Street, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 5 |
| Bill’s Bar & Bistro 1 Halswell Road, Hillmorton, Christchurch 8025 | Tavern | 9 |
| Black Horse 33 Lincoln Road, Hillmorton, Christchurch 8024 | Tavern | 18 |
| Hornby Workingmen’s Club & Msa 17 Carmen Road, Hornby, Christchurch 8042 | Workingmen’s Club | 18 |
| Temp’s Bar 21 Goulding Avenue, Hornby, Christchurch 8042 | Tavern | 18 |
| Valentines Buffet Christchurch 7-11 Chalmers Street, Hornby, Christchurch 8042 | Restaurant | 14 |
| The Brickworks 69 Centaurus Road, Huntsbury, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Swamp Tavern 670 Main South Road, Islington, Christchurch 8004 | Tavern | 18 |
| Waimakariri Restaurant Tavern 1276 Main North Road, Kainga, Christchurch 8009 | Tavern | 9 |
| Bridie’s Bar & Bistro 401 Worcester Street, Linwood, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| MacKenzies Hotel 51 Pages Road, Linwood, Christchurch 8062 | Tavern | 18 |
| Nuggets 233 Linwood Avenue, Linwood, Christchurch 8001 | Tavern | 18 |
| Lyttelton Tavern 23 Dublin Street, Lyttelton 8082 | Tavern | 12 |
| New Brighton Club 202 Marine Parade, New Brighton, Christchurch 8083 | Workingmen’s Club | 18 |
| The Bower 487 New Brighton Road, New Brighton, Christchurch 8007 | Tavern | 18 |
| Chats QE II Shopping Centre, 251 Travis Road, New Brighton North, Christchurch 8083 | Tavern | 18 |
| Opawa Bowl & Jack Bar 17 Opawa Road, Opawa, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 18 |
| Rose and Thistle Tavern 26 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch 8025 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Herald 15 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch 8053 | Tavern | 9 |
| Queenspark Tavern 60 Queenspark Drive, Parklands, Christchurch 8083 | Restaurant | 18 |
| The Turf 6 Inwoods Road, Parklands, Christchurch 8083 | Tavern | 18 |
| Fitz 2 Sports Bar 77 Stevens Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| Coasters Tavern 280 Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch 8051 | Tavern | 18 |
| Redwood Hotel 340 Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch 8051 | Hotel | 18 |
| Mayor of Ale 22 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 17 |
| Robbies Riccarton 87 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Craic 2 Straven Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Riccs 280 Blenheim Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041 | Tavern | 18 |
| Wilsons Sports Bar 25 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 18 |
| Richmond Wmc & Msa 75 London Street, Richmond, Christchurch 8013 | Workingmen’s Club | 18 |
| Sideline Sports Bar 331 Stanmore Road, Richmond, Christchurch 8001 | Tavern | 18 |
| O’Shea’s Public House 122 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch 8001 | Hotel | 18 |
| Stock X Change Shirley 110 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch 8061 | Tavern | 18 |
| TAB Shirley 122 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch 8061 | TAB | 18 |
| Racecourse Hotel 118 Racecourse Road, Sockburn, Christchurch 8042 | Hotel | 18 |
| Rendezvous On Barrington Shops C-D, 250 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch 8024 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Celtic Arms Inn 308 Selwyn Street, Spreydon, Christchurch 8024 | Tavern | 18 |
| Cranford Alehouse 305 Cranford Street, St Albans, Christchurch 8014 | Tavern | 18 |
| The Elmwood Trading Co. 1 Normans Road, Strowan, Christchurch 8052 | Tavern | 18 |
| Churchills Tavern 441 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023 | Tavern | 18 |
| Sandridge Hotel 30 Huxley Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023 | Hotel | 18 |
| Golden Mile Tavern 10 Trents Road, Templeton, Christchurch 8042 | Tavern | 18 |
| Bush Inn Tavern 364 Riccarton Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041 | Tavern | 18 |
| Horse & Jockey 8 Yaldhurst Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041 | Tavern | 18 |
| Gav’s Endeavour Bar & Eatery 87 Effingham Street, Waimari Beach, Christchurch 8009 | Tavern | 9 |
| The Embankment 181 Ferry Road, Waltham, Christchurch 8011 | Tavern | 15 |
| The Oak N Ferry 608 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 18 |
| Woolston Club 43 Hargood Street, Woolston, Christchurch 8062 | Workingmen’s Club | 18 |
| Woolston Sports Bar 669-675 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch 8002 | Tavern | 18 |
| Yaldhurst Hotel 15 West Coast Road, Yaldhurst, Christchurch 8004 | Hotel | 18 |
Venues by suburb or town: Riccarton (5), Christchurch Central (4), Bishopdale (4), Linwood (3), Hornby (3), Shirley (3), Woolston (3), Belfast (2), Halswell (2), Avonhead (2), Hillmorton (2), Upper Riccarton (2), Sydenham (2), Redwood (2), Akaroa (2). 60 of the 73 venues run the maximum of 18 machines. 6 of the 73 venues are clubs (RSA, sports, cosmopolitan or similar); the rest are pubs, hotels, TAB venues and other commercial premises. The Gambling Act 2003 caps a pub or club at 18 machines, and venues first licensed after 17 October 2001 at 9 unless the Minister approved more.
How much players lose on pokies in Christchurch
Players in Christchurch lost $26.3 million on pub and club pokies in the April-June 2026 quarter, up 8.3% on $24.3 million in April-June 2025. Over the four quarters to June 2026 the total was $103.4 million (up 7.8% on the previous four quarters). Across New Zealand the figure for the same quarter was $267.1 million, so Christchurch accounted for 9.9% of national pokie losses outside casinos.
| Quarter | Gaming machine profits |
|---|---|
| Jul-Sep 2024 | $24.2 million |
| Oct-Dec 2024 | $24.2 million |
| Jan-Mar 2025 | $23.2 million |
| Apr-Jun 2025 | $24.3 million |
| Jul-Sep 2025 | $25.9 million |
| Oct-Dec 2025 | $26.4 million |
| Jan-Mar 2026 | $24.8 million |
| Apr-Jun 2026 | $26.3 million |
Who runs the machines and where the money goes
Pokies in pubs and clubs are class 4 gambling. Only a corporate society, such as a community trust or a club, can hold the licence, and the profit after tax and costs must go to authorised purposes such as community grants. In Christchurch the main licence holders are Pub Charity Limited (14), New Zealand Community Trust (13), Air Rescue Services Limited (11).
Casino in Christchurch
Christchurch also has a licensed casino, Christchurch Casino, which is not part of the pub and club figures above. Entry is 20 and over; our Christchurch Casino guide covers hours, entry rules and games.
Looking for somewhere to bet on racing or sport? Our TAB Christchurch list has every TAB store, pub TAB and club TAB in the district.
More pokie venues in Canterbury
Selwyn (13) · Waimakariri (11) · Ashburton (11) · Timaru (12) · Hurunui (8) · Kaikoura (1) · Mackenzie (4) · Waimate (2) · All of New Zealand
Before you play
If gambling is costing more than you planned, the Gambling Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0800 654 655 or by free text to 8006. Under section 310 of the Gambling Act 2003 a venue manager must, when you ask, issue an exclusion order that bars you from the gambling area of that venue for up to 2 years. More options are on our gambling help page.
Prefer to play from home? Our online pokies guide explains how online pokies differ from pub machines, and our gambling law page covers what is legal in New Zealand.
Source: Department of Internal Affairs, Quarterly List of Venues and Gaming Machines (June 2026) and Class 4 Gambling Expenditure by Quarter and District, published on data.govt.nz. Gaming machine profits (GMP) are the amounts players put into the machines minus the prizes paid out, before tax and grants. Opening hours are not part of the DIA data; check with the venue.