Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
Since 1 July 2004, the Ministry of Health has been responsible for developing and implementing the ‘integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health’ that is described in section 317 of the Gambling Act 2003.
The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25 is the latest of those strategy documents. The strategy sets out the Ministry’s approach to and budget for funding and coordinating services to prevent and minimise gambling harm during the three year period starting 1 July 2022.
The strategy was developed following a comprehensive consultation process with groups and individuals that included people with experience of gambling harm, problem 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 the focus on better meeting the needs of people affected by harmful gambling and reducing gambling harm-related health inequities for priority populations including Māori, Pacific and Asian people and young people/rangatahi.
Key changes in the strategy include strengthening our public health approach and service response by:
- strengthening partnership approaches to design and delivery of services; and
- increasing awareness and engagement for those at risk, with a greater focus on targeted public health initiatives developed in collaboration with priority populations, particularly young people/rangatahi
Other new initiatives include:
- developing and expanding digital services and supports to improve the range of services and service access; and
- developing and evaluating new services to increase choice and strengthen evidenced based service improvements, using more action research methods with affected communities.
The activities included in the strategy comprise public health services, intervention and support services, research, evaluation and workforce development.
Strategy contents
The strategy is divided into sections as follows
- A strategic overview (Section 2). 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.
- A strategic plan (Section 3). This section outlines the long term strategic framework that guides the Ministry’s approach to the prevention and minimisation of gambling harm, including high-level objectives and priorities for action. It forms the strategic context for the proposed three-year service plan.
- A three-year service plan 2022/23 to 2024/25 (Section 4). The service plan sets out the Ministry’s service priorities to prevent and minimise gambling harm, and the costs of these services, for the three years from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025.
- The levy rates for 2022/23 to 2024/25 (Section 5). 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 New Zealand). It also describes the process used to calculate the levy rates.
The strategy and new problem gambling levy regulations take effect on 1 July 2022.
