On 29 August 2021 the Ministry of Health released its draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm for 2022/23-2024/25 consultation document and invited submissions, which closed on 8 October 2021.
During the consultation period, 10 online meetings were held including one each for Māori, Pacific, Asian and young people/rangatahi viewpoints, one for the gambling industry and one for people with lived experience of gambling harm. Meetings were held online to keep people safe during the COVID-19 alert level restrictions.
By the close of the consultation period, the Ministry had received a total of 64 written submissions representing a range of groups and individuals.
This consultation informed the updated draft strategy and levy rates. The information has been sent to the Gambling Commission.
Summary
The Gambling Act 2003 sets out requirements for an ‘integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health’. The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and refreshing the strategy at three-yearly intervals, and for implementing it. The Crown recovers the cost of developing and implementing the strategy, by way of a ‘problem gambling levy’ set by regulation at a different rate for each of the main gambling sectors.
On 29 August 2021 the Ministry of Health released its draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm for 2022/23-2024/25 consultation document and invited submissions, which closed on 8 October 2021.
During the consultation period, 10 online meetings were held including one each for Māori, Pacific, Asian and young people/rangatahi viewpoints, one for the gambling industry and one for people with lived experience of gambling harm. Meetings were held online to keep people safe during the COVID-19 alert level restrictions.
By the close of the consultation period, the Ministry had received a total of 64 written submissions representing a range of groups and individuals.
An external contractor, Allen + Clarke, analysed the submissions and notes of the hui and has produced a “Draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25: Submissions Analysis “report for the Ministry of Health. This report and the submissions informed the Ministry’s revised proposals.
The Ministry has also produced a supporting document that summarises in table form the key themes raised in the submissions and the Ministry’s response to each.
We would like to acknowledge the contribution made by everyone who participated in the consultation process and particularly those who shared their lived experience of gambling harm.
The proposals
The Ministry has re-considered its draft strategy and estimated costs in the light of feedback from the consultation meetings and submissions. It has also updated gambling expenditure figures and presentation data received after the consultation document was written and recalculated the problem gambling levy rates.
In response to submissions, we have strengthened the strategy proposals to promote equity and expand the range of culturally responsive, age appropriate and holistic services, and expand digital services and support, to meet the needs of Maori, Pacific, Asian and young people /rangatahi (priority population groups) most at risk of gambling harm. For example, by adding additional scholarships for entry level and peer qualifications.
Additional funding is proposed to ensure these services can be developed and implemented effectively to meet the needs of young people and diverse cultures, who have all sought greater engagement in developing services.
Additional information is provided in the revised proposals document.
As a result of these changes the total estimated cost of the draft three-year budget is $76.123 million. This is $15.784 million more than the current three-year budget of $60.339 million and $8.479 million more than the $67.374 million budget proposed in the consultation document. The Ministry’s view is that the proposed changes, including increased investment, is necessary to enable a more effective Government response to prevent and minimise gambling harm.
The Ministry’s revised strategy, including updated levy rates, is available for download.
Once again, thank you to those who made submissions. We appreciate your participation in this process.
Next steps
The Gambling Commission will convene a consultation meeting in January, to which it will invite a selected group of stakeholders. It will subsequently submit its recommendations to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Internal Affairs.
The Ministry expects Cabinet to approve the new strategy in March 2022, and regulations to be made and the new Strategy and levy rates to be published in May 2022. The new Strategy and the new levy rates come into effect on 1 July 2022.