Lotto New Zealand warned against bingo launch as gambling harm fears increase
Warning comes after an external investigation found holes in its engagement strategy
Lottery operator Lotto New Zealand has been warned against launching its bingo product next year amid fears it could increase gambling harm in Māori and Pasifika communities.
These fears were raised by Maria Bellringer, a member of its expert advisory panel, who is the director of Auckland University of Technology’s gambling and addictions research centre.
An investigation by Radio New Zealand (RNZ) found that the operator had major issues with its engagement strategy with Māori and Pasifika communities, which are two-to-three times more likely to suffer from gambling harm, according to the Health Promotion Agency’s 2020 Health and Lifestyles Survey.
Lotto New Zealand is aiming to introduce its online bingo product by early next year, and in a submission, to the Minister of Internal Affairs, it aims to make an extra NZ$25m (£13.15m) by the end of the first year.
Bellringer stated that bingo is a continuous form of gambling where players recycle their winnings, unlike an infrequent lottery draw that occurs every few days. She also said that bingo was “highly associated” with problem gambling.
Bellringer added that bingo features as a social, cultural and fundraising activity in Māori and Pasifika communities.
She said: “I really feel that making bingo highly accessible by putting it online, is going to increase the risk of harm for Māori and Pacific communities.”
In the submission, released under the Official Information Act 1982, Lotto New Zealand’s CEO Chris Lyman stated that the firm understands that certain segments of society are more vulnerable to gambling harm than others.
He said: “We know that bingo is a familiar game among Pasifika communities around New Zealand, and is adopted for socialising, entertainment and one-off fundraising efforts.”
Lyman said that Lotto New Zealand would add bingo as a topic of discussion within its responsible gambling programme for these communities.
Lyman added: “With regards to bingo, Lotto NZ will also ensure that our games do not have features that specifically or deliberately appeal to Pasifika communities – for example, via the design of the theme or artwork on bingo games.”
Minister Jan Tinetti has vetoed Lotto New Zealand’s plans to launch this year while she considers a review of the online gambling sector, much to the frustration of Lyman.
In a stakeholder meeting in June 2022, Lyman said: “Lotto has a bingo product ready to go, but the Minister has put that on hold pending the Online Gambling Review.
“Lotto is disappointed the Online Gambling Review has not progressed further, which is holding up Lotto’s ability to move forward. We need legislation that is up to date.”