New Zealand government to invest NZ$76m to minimise gambling harm
Cash injection to be funded by levy payments from gaming machine operators, casinos, TAB NZ and the lottery
The New Zealand government has announced it will plough NZ$76m (£38.96m) into its new strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm.
The initiative was developed after the government examined the consultation documents and the Allen + Clarke analysis of said documents, the Gambling Harm Needs Assessment 2021 conducted by the Ministry of Health, and the Gambling Commission’s report to ministers about a revised strategy and associated problem gambling rates.
This new investment will be funded by a problem gambling levy paid by non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, the TAB New Zealand and the New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
The money will go towards creating training pathways to enable a more skilled and diverse workforce and include more peer and cultural support workers.
The strategy also includes new and expanded digital services and support, which entails better support for vulnerable communities, including Māori, Pacific and Asian people.
There will also be education initiatives to help reduce harm to young people and a de-stigmatisation initiative to change the conversation around gambling and encourage people to get help when they need it.
Andrew Little, Minister for Health, said: “The new funding and strategy aligns our gambling harm prevention and minimisation efforts with the reforms to the health and disability system and the new mental health system we’re building.”
Jan Tinetti, Internal Affairs Minister, added: “Effective regulation of gambling means we can deal with harms including financial problems, relationship problems, family violence and alcohol abuse. The new investment and strategy is about showing we’re serious about protecting New Zealand from these harms.”
“The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 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,” Tinetti concluded.