About gambling harm
Gambling harm is a significant social, economic, and health issue. About one in five people in New Zealand will experience harm in their lifetime due to their own or someone else’s gambling.
Māori, Pacific, Asian, young people, and people on low incomes are disproportionately affected by harmful gambling.
Problem gambling strategy
The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing a problem gambling strategy focused on public health.
Under the Gambling Act the strategy must include:
- measures to promote public health by preventing and minimising the harm from gambling
- services to treat and assist problem gambling, their families and whānau
- independent scientific research associated with gambling
- evaluation.
The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm guides the structure, delivery, and direction of services and activities to prevent and minimise gambling harm for a 3-year period starting 1 July 2022.
Read the Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25
The Ministry of Health's gambling harm research programme supports the goals of the Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm with knowledge, evidence and insight on gambling harm in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Strategy roles and responsibilities
The Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora have a shared responsibility for implementing the strategy.
The Ministry is responsible for monitoring progress, as well as delivering some elements within the strategy such as research. Health New Zealand is responsible for commissioning problem gambling services.
Contact details
Contact us for more information about the problem gambling strategy and the role of the Ministry of Health.
Phone: (04) 496 2000
Email: [email protected]
