The Ministry's Landmark Study on Gambling Harm
The New Zealand Ministry of Health has recently released findings from the New Zealand Gambling Survey 2023/24 (NZGS 2023/24), a comprehensive population-level investigation into gambling participation, risks, and the profound health and wellbeing impacts on Kiwis experiencing gambling harm. This survey, conducted among adults aged 15 and older, provides up-to-date insights into how gambling affects physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, finances, and communities. Building on previous efforts like the National Gambling Study and Health and Lifestyles Survey, it underscores that approximately one in five New Zealanders will face gambling-related harm in their lifetime, either directly or through someone close to them.
Gambling harm, as defined under the Gambling Act 2003, includes any distress or damage—personal, social, economic, or otherwise—stemming from gambling activities. The study employs tools like the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which categorizes risk from non-problem to problem gambling, and the Short Gambling Harm Screen (SGHS) to quantify specific harms. These metrics reveal not just individual struggles but ripple effects across whānau and society.
Prevalence and Scale of Gambling Harm in Aotearoa
According to the NZGS 2023/24 data, around 359,000 New Zealand adults are at some degree of risk from their own gambling, representing roughly 9% of the population aged 15+. Additionally, 381,000 adults reported experiencing at least one form of household-level harm from others' gambling. These figures highlight the widespread nature of the issue, with non-casino pokie machines, online betting, and Lotto remaining popular modes.
Historical data from the 2016 Health and Lifestyles Survey aligns with this, estimating lifetime exposure at 20%. Recent intervention service data from 2004-2023 shows steady client numbers despite population growth, signaling an increase in untreated at-risk individuals. The Ministry notes that service utilization has plateaued, even as at-risk gamblers rise, pointing to gaps in awareness and access.
Mental Health Toll: Depression, Anxiety, and Beyond
One of the study's stark revelations is the link between gambling harm and deteriorating mental health. Participants reporting high-risk gambling via PGSI scores frequently cited stress, anxiety, and depression as direct consequences. A 2024 longitudinal analysis from AUT's Gambling and Addictions Research Centre (GARC), drawing from the National Gambling Study waves, found sustained negative health factors—like poor mental wellbeing—and changing lifestyles strongly predict transition to risky gambling.
Online gambling emerges as particularly insidious, with its private nature potentially heightening depression risk compared to land-based venues. Emotional and psychological distress tops the harm categories, affecting sleep, self-esteem, and daily functioning. For affected others, witnessing a loved one's decline compounds vicarious trauma, leading to family-wide mental health strain.
Physical Health Consequences and Comorbidities
Beyond mental effects, gambling harm manifests physically. The study profiles increased substance use, neglected self-care, and exacerbated chronic conditions. High-risk gamblers report higher rates of health problems, including cardiovascular issues from stress-induced hypertension and weakened immunity from poor lifestyle choices.
The 2017 Burden of Gambling Harm report, still relevant, quantified this as surpassing common ailments like diabetes or arthritis in quality-adjusted life years lost. Recent NZGS indicators confirm gambling causes health problems like stress-related illnesses for many, with longitudinal data linking gambling escalation to broader health decline over time.
Disproportionate Impacts on Māori, Pacific, and Youth
Māori and Pacific peoples face elevated risks, consistent across surveys. The NZGS 2023/24 and Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26-2027/28 emphasize these groups, alongside some Asian communities and rangatahi (youth), as priorities. Youth19 Gambling Brief reveals student gambling linked to weekly spending and attitudes favoring harm prevention education.
Cultural factors, socioeconomic deprivation, and targeted marketing amplify vulnerability. For instance, Pacific people report higher financial and relationship harms, while Māori experience intergenerational cycles. Young adults (15-24) show rising online engagement, correlating with impulsivity and peer influences.
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Effects on Affected Others and Communities
Gambling harm extends beyond the individual: 381,000 households affected per NZGS. Partners, children, and whānau endure financial strain, emotional abuse, and disrupted routines. Children of problem gamblers risk developmental issues, perpetuating cycles.
Community-level harms include crime spikes near venues and reduced social cohesion. The 2017 burden study categorized harms into financial, relationship, health, work/study performance, and emotional domains, with legacy effects like debt persisting years later.
Online Gambling: A Growing Threat
Offshore online platforms evade regulation, exposing Kiwis to unchecked harms. Position papers highlight disproportionate impacts on ethnic minorities. NZGS data shows online modes linked to higher isolation and depression, as private access bypasses social checks.
The Ministry's strategy addresses this via education and levy-funded interventions, but calls for tighter controls grow amid rising participation post-COVID.
Government Response and the 2025-28 Strategy
The refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm allocates levy funds from pokies, casinos, TAB, and Lotto to public health measures. Priorities: early intervention, workforce training, Māori/Pacific services, and evaluation. It integrates NZGS insights for targeted support, aiming to reduce inequities.
Read the full strategy for funding breakdowns and actions.
Help-Seeking and Treatment Outcomes
NZGS reveals low formal help-seeking (under 10% for moderate-risk), favoring informal networks. Intervention data (2023) shows 20,000+ clients, mostly Māori/Pacific males via pokies. The March 2026 Measurement and Treatment Outcomes guide standardizes PGSI/SGHS use for better tracking.
Success hinges on accessible, culturally safe services. Clinical internships and level 7 qualifications in gambling harm are planned.
Research Contributions from Universities
AUT's GARC drives evidence, with NGS linking gambling changes to health declines. Recent papers (2024) highlight lifestyle predictors. Universities like Otago contribute youth data, informing policy.
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Future Outlook and Actionable Insights
With online harms rising, proactive measures are crucial. Individuals: monitor PGSI scores, seek free counseling via 0800 654 655. Policymakers: enforce levy use, regulate offshore sites. Communities: foster awareness via schools/churches.
The study calls for sustained investment, predicting reduced burden with early intervention. Track progress via NZGS explorer.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Case Studies
Experts like Prof. Max Abbott (AUT) stress availability hypothesis: more access, more harm. Lived experience voices in consultations shaped the strategy. Case: Pacific families report relational breakdowns; interventions restore balance.
Real-world: Youth19 shows school programs curb uptake.
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