Theft a further blow for casino entertainment business during 'Covid nightmare'

Williams, who runs Auckland-based Las Vegas Functions​, offering casino party entertainment across New Zealand, had hundreds of dollars worth of equipment stolen this week in Christchurch, including a classic 1950s Las Vegas casino roulette wheel.

She had taken over the company from her father, former Auckland police drug squad boss Ian Hastings​, in 2017.

He conceived the idea for the business while fundraising for North Island representative basketball teams in the 1970s.

Fearing raffles weren’t going to cut it, he decided to host casino gambling nights. They were a hit and in 1983, he travelled to the Hotel Riviera casino in Las Vegas to learn how to provide an authentic casino experience.

Hastings negotiated a deal with the hotel, and they provided him with casino equipment, including a full-sized roulette wheel, originally used at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas in the mid-1950s.

The wheel – along with hundreds of casino chips, blackjack shoes (for dispensing cards) and other casino paraphernalia totalling about $500 – were stored in an enclosed fibreglass trailer that was locked and down a driveway on a property in Sockburn, Christchurch.

Some time during Wednesday night, thieves wheeled the trailer down the drive before breaking into it and pilfering the equipment.

Williams and Hastings were absolutely “gutted” to hear the priceless items had been stolen, particularly the wheel, which has enormous sentimental value to them and could not be replaced as the Riveria closed in 2015.

Hastings said the company had been riding a 42-year lucky streak.

“We've never had anything stolen from us,” he said.

“I'm more gutted for Deb who took over the business and has been faced with the Covid nightmare. It hasn’t been easy for her for the last couple of years and this doesn't help.”

The theft was another blow during an already tough year, Williams said.

Pre-Covid, the business would host about five functions a night just in Auckland during December, but it currently has just eight bookings for the entire month.

“I'm now at the point where I'm trying to think of ways to make the business make money that [doesn't] involve going into enclosed places with lots of people.”

Given the history and sentimental value of the roulette wheel, Williams said she would be prepared to offer a “substantial reward” to see its safe return.

The company was hosting an event in Christchurch next week, and Williams hoped she would be able to scramble casino supplies from Auckland, so it could still go ahead.

A police spokeswoman confirmed police had been notified of the burglary.

Anyone who was in the Middlepark Rd area overnight Wednesday and witnessed anything suspicious, or anyone with any information that could assist police, is asked to call 105 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting file number 211209/2843.