How New Zealand Is Spending $81 Million to Tackle Gambling Harm

Gambling is deeply embedded in New Zealand life. Around 64% of adults, roughly 2.76 million New Zealanders aged 15 and over, participated in at least one form of gambling in the 2023/24 year. Most do so without significant harm. But for a substantial minority, gambling creates serious financial, psychological and social consequences.

In response, the Ministry of Health has published a new three-year strategy setting out exactly how the government plans to address gambling harm between July 2025 and June 2028, and how much it will spend doing so.

The Scale of Gambling Harm in New Zealand

The numbers behind the strategy are significant. New Zealanders lost a combined $2.79 billion gambling in 2023/24, covering the four regulated sectors of Lotto NZ, TAB NZ, casinos and non-casino gaming machines (pokies). That figure represents a 24% increase from $2.25 billion in 2021/22.

Research cited in the strategy shows that one in five New Zealand adults, around 22%, are affected at some point in their lives by gambling harm, whether from their own gambling or someone else's. That includes financial harm, relationship breakdown, psychological distress, reduced work or study participation, cultural harm and, in some cases, criminal activity. A further 381,000 adults reported experiencing second-hand gambling harm in their wider families or households in the past year alone.

Where the $81 Million Goes

The total strategy budget of $81.358 million represents a modest increase of $5.235 million on the previous three-year period, funded through a transfer of forecast underspend from the prior levy cycle. The Gambling Commission had advised it could not endorse a larger funding increase without clearer evidence of the benefit of existing expenditure, and the government accepted that position, committing instead to a full impact evaluation of the strategy during the period.

The largest single allocation, $34.591 million across the three years, goes toward improving access to gambling harm support services.

Anyone currently affected by gambling harm can access support through the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Free counselling is also available through the Problem Gambling Foundation at pgf.nz, with no referral required.