How I was banned from New Zealand casinos and what to do in 24-hours in Hamilton NZ!

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Banned from all New Zealand casinos for 2 years! It's true - hear the story here! Travel with me to Hamilton New Zealand to see what can you do in 24 hours in New Zealand!
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[@andreacrashe9894]

*Yep Sky Tower Casino does take it very seriously when it comes to children being in and around Sky Tower Casino's. Some kiddies have been found in the parent/s car sleeping... some little ones are just wandering about.. but yes there is a age limit. The security team are just doing their job, which I am pleased to hear.*

[@moirapettifr7127]

I picked up a poker chip from the floor of a casino in Reno. The next day I remembered that poker chip in my pocket and I placed a bet with it and omg OMG four security men surrounded me and took me to a back room. After an hour they let me go. They also listened to me and my sisters' conversations in an elevator about how our pants fit. Casinos have cameras and undercover people everywhere. They also have "coolers" to get you to leave if you're on a winning streak. I won't ever go back.

[@andreacrashe9894]

@@moirapettifr7127 *Wow that was so intense from the security guards... plus all the cameras everywhere even in the lifts/elevators to hear what is being said!. 🙂.*

[@jeanies1906]

Oh you poor thing. I like your honesty and am more impressed with your self confidence. We need more ppl like you. I also had a laugh too xx

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks Jeanie!

[@garthrogers2269]

It's good that they are taking problem gambling seriously. Better that they err on the side of caution, even if it catches those who make a genuine mistake.

[@michellehayes2475]

When I worked in Hamilton, NZ, I always had Sunday Breakfast at that casino cafe. It was my first introduction to a British breakfast, and I loved it--would not be hungry for the rest of the day. Fresh cappuccino and sit and read the Sunday NZ Herald) ----Heaven.

[@MeppyMan]

Casinos are corrupt disgusting organisations. I would just avoid them. Also my mum made me wait at the entrance to Space Mountain while she and my sister went on the ride. I was 10 😂

[@tobytanzer]

We visited our son in Hamilton in Jan. 2020 just before the pandemic. Loved Hamilton! And the whole country, from Fiordland to Coromandel. Went to the Hamilton Gardens 3 times, and also took the river cruise. Our favourite restaurants were Chili House and Iguana. If you can go to Hamilton Beer and Wine and say hi to Alan for us. Love your channel.

[@CreedBrattonTheOffice]

Just a note: Although 9 years ago now, Hamilton Gardens won the 2014 International Garden of the Year award. I'm a Hamiltonian, lived here my whole life. Definitely not the nicest place in the Country but I like it. It's a good central location and even in peak traffic, takes no more than 30 mins to get somewhere in the city, especially with the new Expressway bypass taking a bit of load off the traffic through the ring road. There definitely needs to be some more touristy things but its a good staying location for tourists that want to do stuff in Waikato (like going to Raglan, Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton and more. Each of those are within 40 mins).

[@carlh42677]

Haha oh dear. Although that was hugely uncomfortable for you I'm glad they did that. I'm glad they take it so seriously. What they should have done was talk to the kids for a bit to verify your story and see if the kids were neglected or not.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Good thought Carl - I cannot believe I never thought of that!

[@DuncanJimmy]

Okay, nothing but respect for doling out the tea in sections throughout the video. Woman's clearly got some serious marketing skills. Glad you can look back and share in the laughter, though I would have been just as freaked out if someone accused me of abandoning my kids.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Glad someone appreciates my genius.. 😂😂

[@justjane805]

Thanks for giving Hamilton some positive publicity. It is sometimes overlooked. Here are a couple more suggestions of family activities to add to your list. Children's playgrounds - we have a very good range of free destination playgrounds. They are a favourite with my grandkids. Every one has a different theme. The Zoo has (mostly) very good size natural enclosures including an excellent walk through aviary. The Classic Car Museum and Jukebox Cafe is popular with some families. Hamilton Lake is good for a stroll. Once a year it is the site of a Hot Air Balloon Festival. There are all sorts of other places in the city I could add to the list. I hope you and your family come back for another visit sometime.

[@josephdouglas9685]

There are worse places to be banned from. At least they are taking the children thing seriously. It does make your story more interesting and funny.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes exactly - no big deal really

[@edwardmcgill1640]

As a long time Sky City shareholder, it is good to see that the Management is taking the regulations/rules that its Casino license requires seriously, although I am sorry for the distress it caused you. I remember a number of years ago there were stories of people urinating on the floor by their pokie machine as they didnt want to leave it as they were "sure" to win the jackpot soon and so couldnt leave to go to the bathroom.

[@missyleaf9778]

You learn something new each day and some lessons we can never forget😳lol H Town is my hometown, there is so much more to see be and do,not so much extreme tourist places but we are a central city and our rural Waikato areas also have hidden treasures eg..Waitomo Caves,Te Awamutu Kiwi House,Hobbiton in Morrinsville. We also have a lovely zoo.. You're videos are fun for us kiwis to watch and a reminder of just how blessed we in nz are. Thanks..

[@tinatumai5619]

Omg thankyou for coming too our city Hamilton, so glad you got too try mama's doughnuts, kool that you're aloud back in the casino. Wish I was in town when you filmed this, just too say kiaora famz from Windy Welli.❤❤❤

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes that would have been amazing

[@mohork]

Melbourne Casino had to put Analogue clocks back into the Casino by law, they were making customers stay until all thier savings were gone.

[@smokeyyoung9670]

some parents do this alot in nz, so they just acting out, sorry for ur experience but dont worry ur not missing out on much.

[@timtowers7997]

I never imagined that for the past couple of years I've been watching a KZbin channel put out by a criminal, gambling addicted, bad parent. Just goes to show: appearances can be deceptive.

[@Kiwiamericans]

I know right!!!!

[@TheHtownbrat]

Hope you had a better time in our little city! Yussss Mamas Donuts!❤❤❤

[@ArizelHalffiend]

Hope you aren't getting too mad at the people (like me) who are laughing when you are telling this story. I laughed because everything had ended fine for you and, well, because I'm fine, sitting at my laptop and drinking my tea. Everybody should be laughing because of this reason, not because anyone is happy that you are embarrassed :)

[@Kiwiamericans]

You should definitely laugh!!!!! It is a funny story in hindsight

[@KiwiNotPG7873]

@@Kiwiamericans A true sign of Kiwinisim you can laugh at your self or at least see the funny side of it now it in the past. Love your videos and glad you added in all the content of showing of more of NZ while talking about your story. PS I did not laugh at this as did see how you might have felt at the time, but found it a little funny still. Keep up with the great content and helping others to see the beauty and also the mistakes that can be made in Beautiful NZ.

[@Mcfreddo]

Why why why? I've just started watching and haven't even got close to finish watching. You're so Awesomely honest ya know, is why for, the comment! Oh, you took your camera in? (I'm only at the tea part atm.) 😂

[@jiara01]

Hello from Hamilton 👋👩🌺 Oh no... so sorry that the people did not believe you and that you had to experience that treatment from Sky City Hamilton. They really did overreact with you, so sorry to you for that. I'm so glad that you did find things to enjoy in other parts of Hamilton though. Thank you for coming to Hamilton and for your videos. They are great!

[@Kiwiamericans]

It was an experience... laughing now looking back at it

[@Itzy91]

wow that was a fascinating story. I would have been mortified. What exactly is a silent alarm and how did you trigger it?

[@TroyMason-zu7rd]

Cameras and facial recognition

[@Itzy91]

@@TroyMason-zu7rd ty

[@roberthutchison1561]

Sky city casino is only in Auckland , hamtlon and Queenstown . Sooo you still had other locations to go to when it came to casinos

[@lkykumar2990]

Ohh very interesting ed informative information 😊

[@Kiwiamericans]

Glad it was helpful

[@foreignparticle1320]

I had NO idea there was a tea plantation in NZ. AT LAST THERE'S SOMETHING TO GO TO HAMILTON FOR.

[@rachaelcourtnell7275]

well that's disturbing. the silent alarm going off. how did the casino know you were there? sounds like they are using biometric cameras, not good, especially since there is no information to the public about them, or is there and you didn't see it?

[@mbrass2893]

When is your next video with Christi ? You two are hilarious !

[@Kiwiamericans]

Ahh yes I will schedule one asap!

[@Katy38316]

The Lady at the beginning is from South Africa right? She doesn’t sound kiwi.

[@Kiwiamericans]

She was from the Netherlands

[@tristanreynolds222]

Hi The walks in Hamilton are very good done them myself. The cycle tracks are fun. I live near Hamilton. I haven't tried half the restaurants yet. Must be bad getting banned from casino. I am always on the lookout for arcades like Sky City bowling one Burger King removed theirs don't know why. Thank you. Tristan

[@jenifferschmitz8618]

when the casino first opened up there kids being left in the car park and in the lobby that why they took it so seriously

[@anneleahy9010]

hard case story, guess with the high levels of issues in NZ with gambling they have a responsibility to ensure safety yadayadayada. Love the Hamilton gardens, have you been to Whangarei and visited our quarry gardens, you might enjoy it, that is if it ever stops raining, really liked your raincoat.

[@MrCybercat5]

Huggs I can see both sides Tara , They had to do it by law and yes a huge pain in the arse :( Love your videos

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes I agree - they did what they needed too. 2 years was a bit excessive

[@MrCybercat5]

@@Kiwiamericans yup agree :)

[@wendyd8826]

Oh dear 😅. Your Kiwi friends will appreciate this story 😝

[@barrynichols2846]

I never been banned from a casino...and I've never been in a casino in New Zealand. Never gambled anyway. Had look in the Sky tower I have actually gambled in a casino twice, both times in Australia

[@Cameronsutubes]

so does this include skycity in adelaide australia as well

[@Kiwiamericans]

Not sure... I don't think b soo

[@iawhitaker]

Hilarious! Good to see they are proactive in self governing but a shame you got caught up in this process 😊

[@maryanne9993]

I love the burrito brothers in hamilton yumm

[@danielleLaw007]

Yes children being left alone for parents to go and gamble was a big thing from the 80s to early 2000s it had been going on for many years, dogs n children left in cars suffocating from the heat became news highlight and the govt stepped in and stopped it. You're a beautiful mum it definitely wasn't about you but the negative history of a few bad apples in the past. ❤

[@CapitalVideo]

Interesting Tara!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

What a dramatic event! And how embarrassing! On the plus side, I am glad to know that at least they are factoring in the child protection situation! But I feel for you, nevertheless! At least now it is a funny story! Thank you for the video!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks Daniel! Yes I am glad they take this seriously - I just got caught in the middle :)

[@honestlee3435]

Does the sun ever shine in NZ?

[@tubedriver009]

Yeah, bad luck..were kicked out of Sydney Casino for same thing..some casinos don't like cameras, figure you could be casing the joint.

[@MeppyMan]

Or worried you’ll catch them breaking the law.

[@chefdinre7717]

That's so funny!!!!!!

[@paulprice1705]

HAHA,.. HAHAHAHA.... HAHAHA and I have only gotten to the first 10 second introduction... I will edit more soon! I was banned for life from Manukau City Ten Pin Bowling back in the 80s, so I am looking forward to comparing notes. Ok next time, say your son was born in a leap year, so he is a year older than he looks and say KiaORA! and they should let you get away with it. And yeah, ummm I did a little more than that. That Donut looked great.

[@marcanderson8669]

Casino - check. Next thing is to get yourself kicked out of a pub. It's the kiwi thing to do😄. Don'd do anything to get arrested for; just quietly escorted to the nearest exit.

[@michellehayes2475]

sorry for your experience but you have to respect NZ law. Recall when Pac man first came out and you would have kids in the arcade being truant to school in the US. NZ and Sky probably have reached an agreement that unattended children are not to be in the casino.

[@cookdislander4372]

Yeah growing up in new zealand too be honest it was quite normal to be ditched by shit parents in the carpark of pubs whilst they drink and gamble the grocery money away lol

[@jennyklase6514]

Wow 😮! Oh my goodness! Did the silent alarms go off because the video surveillance recognized your face? Very Big Brother 😬😬!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes it was facial recognition that got me caught!

[@tgchism]

Yikes! Gotta hear this!

[@jennywilloughby3236]

Hahaha. That happened to me at Auckland casino, I was shocked how I was treated too. But I never got band. My 15 year old came in looking for me in her school uniform. Never been back.

[@aheat3036]

😂 You never got band?… Well, you should’ve been banned!

[@ymac61]

Hamilton was rather dirty compared to Cambridge.

[@MadridBarcelonaRota]

The queue to NZ just got longer, who would have guessed. Sorry you were embarrassed but you already knew we sacrifice a lot to ensure our kids are as well cared for as we can.

[@cadifan]

Well, everyone knows it's illegal to leave a child under 14 alone unsupervised, yes, right up to their birthday, I thought that was the law everywhere!

[@MeppyMan]

You realise she didn’t grow up in NZ right? And I used to be out on my own as a kid growing up. Had my own paper run when I was 11. I get that things have changed. But helicopter parenting is also a big problem.

[@cadifan]

@@MeppyMan I do know that, I said I thought it was the law everywhere. We all buggered off on our own when we were kids, that doesn't change the law though does it.

[@nicoletripp3331]

That’s insane. What’s so interesting to me is that kids are allowed so much freedom there and yet in this situation it was almost like you were in Singapore with their military police. You should make a video on some of the funny contradictions of life there. You could absolutely have fun with it.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Ahhh good idea Nicole!!

[@aaronnelley1305]

lol on my record! Its true we have very serious gambling problem in NZ and its not uncommon what your saying. Its a cultural thing, What's acceptable where you were born (no matter where) may not been seen as such in other places. Its 14 here and we do enforce the law harshly as we have not only a mental health problem from poor parenting but insanely high levels of suicide. We tend to the lowest common denominator in NZ which is why we are seen as such compassionate loving folk I guess.

[@aaronnelley1305]

Also I hope you enjoyed the Gardens! What a magical place!

[@chrisharris1522]

Please don't feel badly towards Sky City for this, if it were up to them you could leave your kids for weeks while you gambled away all you money, hell they wouldn't care if you lost your home and your kids starved to death. The ones really at fault here are the New Zealand people who demand that their government puts into place and enforces laws protecting children, fortunately they fail to do so in many cases and those pesky kids get what's coming to them. Just kidding, I know it is embarrassing, but it is worth dealing with a little embarrassment if it saves some kid from neglect, just to add to the horror stories I remember a case where a mum left her baby in a car so she could gamble the kid died from the heat.

[@matrescence_motherhood]

But why did you get banned in the first place?

[@brucefale6132]

She told you.

[@Kiwi_NZ610]

Hello why are you banned

[@kurahoani2874]

next time do a live post. we will watch them

[@Mcfreddo]

Can you write a letter to them. Sounds pretty over the top! Someone's being officious. Oh dear, that's insane. (I'm a kiwi.)

[@cnm757]

That's a good thing, right?

[@Painaaporo]

mummas donuts are the best in town

[@horiwalker1346]

Yeah, too many gambling addicts were dumping their kids to go gamble for hours and coming out broke Abandonment is taken very seriously

[@teinealatai4576]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 tis is so funny ...Hamilton is the best and unfortunately no one believes me😂

[@pvtpublic77]

You were targeted for problem gambling to meet a quoter. They have to be seen to meeting the requirements of their licences. They totally turn a blind eye to drugs, loan sharks, and money laundering though. They will fall over themselves for anyone with money but make examples of 'budget' players. By the way, if they catch wind of this video, they will reinstate your ban.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Interesting... why do u think they would reinstate my ban?

[@billwilson1320]

Rate the Mexican. Most Americans say they can't get good Mexican in NZ.

[@Kiwiamericans]

It is amazing there!!!

[@modfus]

Wow Tara, the truth's all coming out now! 😆

[@Kiwiamericans]

Surprise!

[@modfus]

@@Kiwiamericans Actually Tara, I'm sorry this happened to you. Anyone who has followed your channel for a while (like me) knows you are a loving, responsible parent.

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@modfus they were just doing their job... no hard feelings

[@Mcfreddo]

Nah, that's insane- the follow-up interview. Is it face recognition? Sounds like the first guy was a psychopath?

[@Mama2AWE]

Oh, Tara! Funny, but not. I've never been in a casino, but thinking 12 years old is babysitting age, I would've done the exact same. Wasn't your family wondering what took so long in the bathroom 2 1/2 years later?!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yeah two different casinos! How are you girl???

[@aniolson1808]

Ack.. sorry that happened to you - but yeah, the14yo thing is our law. Not a good situation to inadvertently find yourself in

[@stoptheplanetiwantoff6906]

You know you have the right to say nothing they cant hold you you can just walk out and if they put hands on you they have broken the law. They are not police.Because they under reacted in the past and got cought out now they over reacted.

[@untitled06]

in one way it sucks for you, but in another way its good they are taking this seriously coz some parents are terrible

[@Kiwiamericans]

Of course totally agree

[@peterferan4389]

How did your husband and children react to living with a banned person. Did you have to live in a shed out the back?

[@Kiwiamericans]

They laughed hard but I was so embarrassed!

[@mtuk4538]

U tube recording is banned in casinos 😊

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes I just share a story...

[@Frank-rx8ch]

Good, cos you may win some but loose alot

[@deanstevenson6527]

Best wishes...

[@MyraShotton]

2 years, better than the alternative, i.e. take your kids away from you. But that wouldn't have happened, would it?

[@Johndoe-ob1]

Please gamble in moderation

[@missytakiari6313]

They got all the drug addicts up in there

[@davidmacfarlane1763]

Speaking as a kiwi.... you mean like both of them, ok there are some botique ones sure but still.....

[@stephendickson9000]

Queenstown, Dunners and chch in the south. I assume there's a few in the pig island? Jafaland and....

[@deanstevenson6527]

Brave person. Thanks for sharing.