New Zealand Allocates NZ$81 Million to Combat Gambling Addiction

New Zealand has unveiled a significant investment to tackle gambling addiction. The Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, announced that the government is committing up to NZ$81 million (approximately $50 million) as part of its updated Strategy to Prevent and Minimize Gambling Harm.

This initiative marks one of the most significant governmental investments in addressing issues related to problem gambling. Doocey emphasized that merely announcing a strategy is insufficient for improvement. Instead, there must be a system to evaluate which measures are effective and which are not. The government has committed to this evidence-based approach. Doocey further explained that the goal is for New Zealanders to experience tangible change. Consequently, an independent strategic review covering the 2025/26 period has been launched to assess the effectiveness of current measures and identify which should be enhanced or discontinued. A key part of the strategy is to recruit more trained specialists to support those affected by problem gambling. The minister noted that a significant barrier to effective recovery is the shortage of professionals available to assist at-risk and vulnerable individuals. To address this, the plan includes initiatives to expand the gambling harm workforce by adding up to 18 new clinical internship positions, Doocey stated. The plan has a twofold focus: making treatment services more accessible and assisting individuals who wish to become qualified support professionals but face challenges in obtaining their qualifications. The government aims to stay ahead of current trends, which indicate that one in five New Zealanders will experience gambling addiction, either personally or through a family member, over their lifetime. To effectively tackle this issue, the government is determined to allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact.

To finance these initiatives, the government has established the Problem Gambling Levy Regulations. This will impose a levy on various stakeholders, including Lotto NZ, TAB NZ, and casinos, to generate the necessary funds to address problems related to gambling and gambling addiction. The government also utilized a two-stage consultation process to ensure that the resources are allocated effectively and have a significant impact. Doocey stated that policymakers were keen to learn from the experiences of individuals affected by gambling harm, and the current strategy has been designed to address the identified issues and their causes.