New Zealand is implementing a new Problem Gambling Prevention strategy
Gambling harm in New Zealand has been quietly climbing the ladder of public health concerns, and the numbers speak for themselves. According to national health data, over 70,000 Kiwis are classified as moderate to high-risk gamblers, while hundreds of thousands more are affected indirectly. The problem isn’t just that more people are gambling, it’s that the accessibility of online casinos, instant-play platforms, and electronic gaming machines are making it harder to spot the signs and easier to spiral.
This is exactly why New Zealand’s Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, is rolling out a revised national gambling harm prevention strategy – a bold NZ$81 million move designed to tackle the issue head-on. While previous approaches laid the groundwork, the evolving landscape of gambling (especially the rise of New Zealand online casinos) has outpaced old prevention models. In short, the old playbook just isn’t cutting it anymore.
The newly updated strategy doesn’t just talk about change; it’s building it. With an independent review set for 2025/26, a clinician internship programme that encourages lived experience, and a sharper focus on early intervention, this is a proactive, people-first approach. It’s about recognising the ripple effects gambling has on families, whānau, and entire communities – and making sure the next chapter looks a lot different from the last.
What’s Changing? Key Goals Behind the New Prevention Strategy
The new strategy isn’t just putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound; it’s tossing out the old playbook and getting ahead of the game. It’s all about flipping the script: from reacting to crises to stopping them before they start. The mission? Cut down gambling harm at the source, supercharge access to real support (not just pamphlets in waiting rooms), and train up a skilled, culturally connected workforce that’s ready to meet the moment – especially in underrepresented communities.
The key goals are to reduce the prevalence of gambling-related harm, boost access to effective support, and build a workforce equipped to meet the growing demand for intervention, especially in underrepresented communities.
One of the most striking enhancements in this strategy is the inclusion of 18 clinical internship placements, some of which are open to people in recovery themselves. This not only expands the number of trained professionals but also brings first-hand insight into treatment spaces.
Compared to earlier strategies, this version leans harder into community involvement, thanks to a two-stage consultation process that sourced feedback from those directly affected by gambling harm. It’s real people shaping real policy.
There’s a stronger focus on long-term impact, with a scheduled independent review in 2025/26 to measure effectiveness and adjust course if needed. This kind of accountability wasn’t a focus in prior plans and it signals a more adaptive approach going forward.
The Ministry of Health remains at the helm of this initiative, working closely with clinicians, local organisations, and gambling regulators to deliver tangible results. The rejection of a recent NZ$150 million bid for an online casino licence shows that government isn’t just talking about harm minimisation, they’re putting policies in place to back it up.
Tackling Gambling Harm: The Core Components of the New Plan
This isn’t just a shiny new strategy, it’s a full-throttle blueprint to pull problem gambling up by the roots. The government is no longer playing defence; it’s going all in with a multipronged plan that hits prevention, intervention, collaboration, and innovation in one strategic sweep.
First up: prevention. There will be nationwide education drives, targeted awareness campaigns, and culturally relevant messaging that speaks to those most at risk. From school halls to community centres, the goal is simple: know the signs and stop the spiral.
Then comes early intervention and treatment, the strategy’s sharpest tools for those already in the grip of gambling harm. Expect quicker, easier access to trained support professionals, many of whom may have walked this road themselves through the new clinician internship programme. The plan aims to break the cycle before it turns into a crisis, replacing shame and secrecy with support and recovery.
Collaboration is another major pillar. This calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach, bringing together communities, local health providers, and yes, even the gambling industry itself.
And let’s not forget the digital frontier. The strategy will make use of technology and data-driven tools to flag risk before it turns into harm. With the rise of online casinos in NZ and mobile betting apps, it’s high time algorithms were used for more than targeted ads. The future may well see platforms deploying predictive tech to spot problem behaviour early and guide users toward help.
How the New Strategy Will Make a Difference for Kiwi Communities
The new strategy on gambling prevention in NZ isn’t about tweaking the edges. It’s about changing the game altogether.
For individuals, it means better access to timely support – no more waiting months to speak with someone who actually understands. With more clinicians stepping into the ring, people facing gambling harm will find a helping hand that understands what they are going through.
For families, it means fewer secrets, fewer shattered bank accounts, and more open conversations. Harm from gambling doesn’t happen in a vacuum – it affects kids, partners, parents, and entire whānau units. This strategy aims make it easier to reach out.
For communities, it brings tailored, culturally grounded prevention and intervention services that don’t just talk to people, they listen. Māori, Pasifika, rural, and marginalised groups will see solutions that reflect their unique challenges.
In coming years, Kiwis can expect to see more awareness campaigns, and more frontline workers with the training and empathy to make a difference. There will be more real-time action, based on frequent reviews.
Minister Doocey and the Ministry of Health have made it clear: this is a long-term commitment to stamping out gambling harm and promoting responsible gambling across Aotearoa. Because when communities thrive, when individuals feel supported, and when prevention becomes part of the national conscience, that’s when real change happens.
Honoring New Zealand’s Unique Communities in Gambling Prevention
In Aotearoa, when it comes to gambling prevention in NZ, a cookie-cutter strategy simply won’t cut it. From the bustling streets of Auckland to the quieter corners of Southland, the strategy takes a region-by-region, community-by-community approach.
It recognises that gambling harm doesn’t look the same everywhere and neither should the solutions. For Māori and Pasifika communities, who are statistically more likely to experience gambling-related harm, this plan goes deeper than surface-level fixes. It threads culturally responsive support right into the core of the strategy, ensuring prevention, education, and treatment that reflect te ao Māori and Pacific values, voices, and lived realities.
By partnering with iwi, hapū, Pacific organisations, and local community leaders, the government is saying something powerful: you know your people best. This isn’t about sweeping in with top-down programmes. It’s about co-creating support systems that are locally led, culturally grounded, and trusted.
Where to Turn: Supporting Those Affected by Gambling Harm
If you or someone close to you is caught in the grip of gambling harm, know this – you’re not alone, and there’s zero shame in reaching out. What you’re facing is real, and help is not only available, it’s free, confidential, and closer than you think.
Start with the Gambling Helpline, which is available 24/7. Call 0800 654 655, text 8006, or visit gamblinghelpline.co.nz for online chat and tailored resources.
For culturally specific support, services like Mapu Maia offer counselling for Pasifika individuals and families. Get in touch by calling 0800 862 342 or visiting www.kakanomaori.org.nz to find services in your area.
No matter where you are in Aotearoa – north, south, city, or coast – support is just a phone call, text, or click away. The hardest part is reaching out. The rest? You won’t have to do it alone.
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