New Zealand Has Developed a National Strategy to Prevent Gambling-Related Harm

New Zealand’s government has rolled out an updated national strategy for the prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.

Led by Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, the strategy will raise an additional NZ$81m ($46.4 m) to improve access, support and intervention services for all citizens affected by problem gambling, including individuals’ families.

The government estimates that one in five New Zealanders will be affected by gambling harm in their lifetime, which means that communities will be placed under significant strain in the years ahead.

Of significance, the strategy will also aim to improve the long-term sustainability of the country’s gambling harm treatment system by opening up to 18 new clinical internships, which will alleviate workforce shortages. 

“It is expected these interns will be supported to develop gambling harm expertise by working closely with a supervisor in a clinical setting,” Minister Doocey added. 

“This approach is necessary to bridge the gap between education and work and will give interns the practical experience needed to help people affected by gambling harm.”

The strategy itself has been constructed through a two-stage consultation process, and is based on detailed feedback from people with lived experience.

All treatment services will be funded through a new Problem Gambling Levy Regulations framework, which similar to the RET levy in the UK mandates the funding of treatment through levies collected from casinos, non-casino gaming machine operators, TAB NZ, as well as Lotto NZ.

Currently, there are ongoing discussions about how to impose the treatment levy on NZ online casino operators as well. This comes ahead of the launch of an online casino market in the country with up to between 10 and 15 licences, a prospect which has caused some concern among established stakeholders like SkyCity and the TAB.

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