Who gambles and how much?• 81% of New Zealanders surveyed took part in at least one

gambling activity over a year.1

• 3% are regular continuous gamblers (weekly participation in activities such as pokies, casino table games and race and sport betting).1

• 17% play Lotto weekly.1

• New Zealanders spent $1.967 billion gambling in 2011.2

• Increase in gaming industry turnover (gross amount wagered): from $6.1 billion (1998)3 to $15.3 billion (2011).2

Sources: 1 Health Sponsorship Council (2011). “New Zealanders’ Participation in Gambling”.2 Department of Internal Affairs (2012). Gaming Statistics.3 Statistics New Zealand (1999). “Gaming: an economically significant industry”.

Gambling in New Zealand 2011

Source: Department of Internal Affairs (2012). Gaming Statistics.

Est. annual turnover $15.3 billion

Money lost in 2011 $1.967 billion

Money lost per day $5.4 million

Money lost on pokies $856 million

Lottery Commission $404 million

Source: Department of Internal Affairs (2012). Gambling Expenditure Statistics.

Expenditure: Key trends 2010 / 2011TAB racing and sports betting

Decreased 2% $278m → $273m

NZ Lotteries Increased 16.7% $347m → $404m

Non-casino gaming machines

Increased 0.8% $849m → $856m

Casino gambling (including EGMs)

Decreased 1.1% $438m → $434m

All gambling Increased 2.9% $1.913b → $1.967b

• Estimated turnover across the four sectors was $15.3 billion, compared with $15.2 billion for 2010 – a 0.7 per cent increase.

Expenditure on Main Forms of Gambling 1993 to 2010

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

$M

Race & Sports Betting Lotteries Commission Non-casinoGaming Machines Casinos

Definition of problem gamblingThe Ministry of Health defines problem gambling as patterns of gambling behaviour that compromise, disrupt or damage health, personal, family or vocational pursuits.

The Gambling Act 2003 defines a problem gambler as a person whose gambling causes harm or may cause harm.

Signs of problem gambling• Preoccupied with

gambling• Increased gambling

to achieve desired excitement

• Unsuccessful attempts to stop

• Irritable trying to cut down or stop

• Gambles to escape negative mood

• Chases losses• Lies to cover

gambling• Criminal acts to

support gambling• Lost jobs or

relationships from gambling

• Relies on bailouts

Problem gambling in New Zealand• A 1999 study found that 3% of the adult population are

lifetime problem gamblers and they account for 24% of typical monthly expenditure on gambling.1

• A 2008 study found that over 74,000 New Zealanders suffer from inferior mental health because of gambling.2

• It also found that 10,000 New Zealanders engaged in illegal activities over the previous year due to their gambling.2

• As much as 37% of foodbank clients either had a gambling problem or were affected by the gambling of others. Approximately ¾ of those clients have children directly affected by shortages due to gambling.3

Sources: 1 Abbott, M., & R. Volberg (2000). Taking the pulse on gambling and problem gambling in New Zealand: A report on phase one of the 1999 National Prevalence Survey. 2 SHORE (2008). Assessment of the social impacts of gambling in New Zealand 3 Wynd, D (2005). Hard to swallow: Foodbank use in New Zealand.

Primary gambling mode of intervention clients, 2010/2011

Source: Ministry of Health (2012). Problem Gambling Service user data.

Problem gambling and young people

• The harm done to the children of problem gamblers can be particularly severe and long-lasting.

• The impact of depression and anxiety, suicidality, financial indebtedness, criminality, family disharmony and separation, poor physical and mental health, family violence, household stress, all have a significant and lasting impact on children.

• 12.4% of significant others of problem gamblers seeking counselling in New Zealand are under 20 years of age.

• One in six New Zealanders say a family member has gone without something they needed or a bill has gone unpaid because of gambling

• Children with parents who have a gambling problem are more likely to become problem gamblers themselves

• A young person growing up in a poorer area has 6 times as many pokie machines in their community and four times more likely to become a problem gambler in future than a young person in a well-off community

• The system for allocating the profits of these machines is open to manipulation, creating incentives to advocate for more venues and more non-casino machines regardless of the harm they cause

Four main purposes:

• Control the growth of gambling

• Prevent and minimise the harm caused by gambling, including problem gambling

• Facilitate responsible gambling

• Facilitate community involvement in decisions about the provision of gambling

The Gambling Act 2003

Gambling harm reduction bill

• Enable local authorities and communities, to reduce the number of pokie machines where they are doing particular harm.

• Remove racing and racing stake money as an ‘authorised purpose’ for pokie grants.

• Require that at least 80% of pokie funds generated by gambler losses are returned to the community they have come from.

• Phase out the distribution of pokie funds through corporate societies or ‘pokie trusts’ within a year. The responsibility for these distributions will go to special committees (modelled on the Creative New Zealand Creative Communities Fund Committees).

• Make consumer protection measures (player tracking devices and pre-commit cards) a required condition of a pokie machine venue operator’s licence.

• Informing Change- school project

• Changing Lives

• Changing Environments

• Changing Communities

PGF in New Zealand:

Beyond an addictions paradigm

www.pgfnz.org.n

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