Sky City's twice weekly bus service transporting Tauranga residents over the Kaimais to spend an afternoon at its Hamilton casino is under fire from critics - but users say it's a great service.

On Wednesdays and Sundays Sky City operates a free shuttle taking residents from Tauranga to Hamilton where they can visit the casino, dine on cheap deals and enjoy the Hamilton surrounds.

Marion Owens uses the free Sky City Casino shuttle service from Tauranga to Hamilton to catch up with old friends.

The Problem Gambling Association communications manager Andree Froude says the foundation is concerned the casino is targeting vulnerable people and encouraging them to gamble.

'I think a lot of the people on this bus don't have a great deal of money to gamble.

'We'd be a lot happier if there were pamphlets or contact information for people who may be problem gamblers. It's not about stifling peoples fun. But the casino must play its part in offering leaflets as part of being a responsible host,” says Andree.

'The elderly can become quickly addicted to gaming machines as they are designed to captivate the audience. They tell you when you have nearly won, and encourage you to keep feeding them. Over 70 per cent of people we see are addicted to the machines and not the table games,” says Andree.

Renee Hill has used the free shuttle service for her walking group and says she can't fault the service.

'I called ahead of time and told the driver we weren't really interested in gambling. They said that was okay, and that there was no obligation to gamble. The bus operates on a first come first on basis.

'But when we got to Greerton we'd run out of seats so the driver organised a car to take the rest. We all got a $5 meal voucher and had a nice lunch of salad and sausages.

Renee says most of the travellers use the service to enjoy a day in Hamilton walking around the river banks.

'Out of the 23 or so people we went over with about 15 gambled.”

Sky City Casino general manager Arthur Pitcher can't understand what all the fuss is about.

'The Hamilton Working Man's Club shuttle people about. It's normal practice. They have pokies too but no one is complaining about them,” says Arthur.

'Our customers asked us to provide the shuttle service. We get far more coaches arriving from private parties chartering their own buses.

'We shuttle hundreds of people between their hotels and the Christchurch Casino and no one minds that. Okay we have elderly people with oxygen tanks they wheel around. But if those people want to come out they should be allowed to.”

Arthur says the casino is a safe environment where all gambling is monitored.

'Quite a few come just to dine. Some just use the bus as a free service I am sure. Some are newly widowed and don't drive. Are they just meant to stay at home?” says Arthur.

Tauranga resident Marion Owens has been catching the bus for two years, travelling to Hamilton to visit friends in the city where she used to live.

She has been going to the casino since it opened about 11-years-ago.

'The staff have threatened to put my bed behind the screen as I was here so often.”

Marion says she sets herself a budget each Wednesday and sticks to it.

Former Tauranga Grey Power President Dorothy Seymour says she used the free Sky City Casino shuttle once, but it wasn't her thing and won't be using it again.

'I went on it a couple of years ago, but I haven't been on it since.”

'You're either a gambler or you aren't. Personally I don't think it is very good. One of these days Sky Casino and Sky TV will be running this country.

'Sometimes gamblers families are the ones who suffer and that's quite bad. If people were just taking advantage of the free shuttle to Hamilton then that would be okay – if you had nothing better to do. It'd be a good trip wouldn't it?

'Playing the pokies is not very social though is it? We're a more out-doors type of place rather than being stuck inside a windowless building without clocks,” says Dorothy.