Addressing Problem Gambling in New Zealand: A public health approach

Gambling has long been a part of New Zealand society. People take part in gambling for monetary gain, need, relaxation, and excitement, to socialise and to, in a direct or indirect way, contribute to the community through fund-raising activities. In many cultures, gambling has been a traditional activity; however, the gambling environment has rapidly expanded to include an increasing number of forms and increased accessibility.

Despite the benefits of gambling to the community, there is strong evidence to show that the community suffers from the negative effects of gambling, particularly problem gambling.

Introduction

In 2004, the Health Sponsorship Council was contracted by the Problem Gambling Committee to develop advice and recommendations for a public health and social marketing approach to prevent and minimise gambling harm.  The Ministry of Health took over the contract with the transition of funding from the Committee to the Ministry on 1 July 2004.

The key project tasks were to:

		Undertake a literature review to provide an overview of gambling and other related literature relevant to the development of public health/social marketing approaches to prevent and minimise gambling harm.
		Prepare advice on recommendations for a public health and social marketing approach to prevent and minimise gambling harm.
		Develop behaviour change indicators for measuring the effect of public health/social marketing interventions.
		Survey the problem gambling health promotion workforce and identify recommendations on areas for workforce development.
		Undertake a stocktake of resources on problem gambling.

A public health approach

To provide advice and recommendations for a social marketing approach to prevent and minimise gambling harm, HSC developed a strategic framework: Addressing Problem Gambling in New Zealand: A public health approach.  The development of the public health framework drew on the findings of the literature review and the input of a public health advisory group.

The literature review identified that a national, social marketing approach to prevent and minimise gambling harm should:

		Identify individuals and groups who are most at risk of gambling-related harm and develop approaches that inform and persuade behaviour changes to prevent and minimise gambling-related harm.
		Identify environmental factors that prevent and minimise gambling-related harm.
		Identify decision makers and work with them to make structural changes that support and facilitate the adoption of healthy behaviours.

The framework recognises that approaches to influence gambling behaviour will not succeed if they are not consistent with, and supportive of, other services focussing on problem gambling, public health and social services in target groups and the wider population.

The goal:

To increase the quality of life of New Zealanders by strengthening society’s response to gambling and preventing and reducing gambling harm.

To realise this goal there are five objectives:

		Denormalise harmful gambling behaviour in society (ie, changing the social and physical environments and reducing the prevalence of attitudes and behaviours that reinforce harmful gambling).
		Enhance the capacity of communities and whanau/family, including tangata whenua and diverse cultural and social groups, to define and address gambling issues.
		Reduce exposure to harmful gambling opportunities.
		Increase our understanding of gambling issues in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, and the implications this has for all New Zealanders.
		Develop partnerships and collaborations at a local, national and international level to reduce gambling harm.

Download the public health framework here. [PDF, 556KB, 49 pages]

Download the summary of the framework (appendix 1) here [PDF, 84KB, 2 pages]