The New Zealand government said it recently invested $48 million in a program designed to decrease problem gambling, which affects one in five New Zealanders, or someone they know, during their lives.
Minister of Health Andrew Little said, “The new funding and strategy aligns our gambling harm prevention and minimization efforts with the reforms to the health and disability system and the new mental health system we’re building.”
The Strategy to Prevent and Minimize Gambling Harm will fund training to enable a more skilled and diverse workforce, including more peer and cultural support workers; new and expanded digital services and supports; education initiatives to reduce harm to young people; and a de-stigmatization initiative to encourage people to seek help. The investment also will include improved support for vulnerable communities, including Māori, Pacific and Asian people.
Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti said, “Effective regulation of gambling means we can deal with harms including financial problems, relationship problems, family violence and alcohol abuse. The strategy was developed following public consultation in late 2021 and will ensure that services are co-designed with people with lived experience of gambling harm, service providers, community groups and industry bodies.”
The program will be funded by a problem-gambling tax paid by non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, the TAB NZ and New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
