Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28

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The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and implementing an ‘integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health’ as per section 317 of the Gambling Act 2003.

The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28 is the latest of those strategy documents. The strategy sets out the Ministry and Health New Zealand’s approach to, and budget for, funding and coordinating services to prevent and minimise gambling harm during the three year period starting 1 July 2025.

The strategy was developed following a comprehensive consultation process as required by the Act, which included engagement with people with lived experience of gambling harm, gambling harm service providers, the gambling industry and other stakeholders with an interest in gambling harm.

What is new about this strategy?

This strategy strengthens alignment with the government’s mental health priorities by providing additional funding to: improve access to services and treatment, strengthen the workforce, focus on prevention and early intervention, and enable more effective service support. This includes funding an impact evaluation of the strategy over time to identify what has been most effective and where investment should be directed to address gambling harm in the future. This strategy also aims to improve monitoring and data collection, to gain further insights into gambling harm and services.

The service plan within the strategy provides for a continuum of public health and clinical services supported by robust research and evaluation, and details the costs of these services, over the next 3 years.

Strategy contents

The strategy is divided into sections as follows:

• A strategic overview. This section provides relevant background and context about the gambling environment, the nature of gambling in New Zealand, gambling related harms and the public health approach to gambling harm.
• The strategic plan. This section outlines the strategic framework that guides our approach to the prevention and minimisation of gambling harm. It sets out the goal, outcomes, priorities and actions that provide the strategic context for the service plan.
• A three-year service plan 2025/26 to 2027/28. The service plan outlines services and key priorities to prevent and minimise gambling harm, and the costs of these services, for the three years from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028.
• The levy rates for 2025/26 to 2027/28. This section sets out the levy rate that applies to each of the four gambling industry sectors required to pay the levy: non-casino gaming machine (NCGM) operators, casinos, TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ, formerly the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB)) and New Zealand Lotteries Commission (Lotto NZ). It also describes the process used to calculate the levy rates.

The Strategy and new problem gambling levy regulations take effect on 1 July 2025.