“While many New Zealanders enjoy gambling as a pastime without issue, the statistics clearly show that harm from gambling can have a significant impact. Therefore, it is important that we implement initiatives and interventions to prevent and minimize harm from gambling,” the Minister clarified.
“I encourage you to provide your input on this consultation document by 6 October 2024 to help shape its development. In my conversations with people about mental health and addiction, I have come to believe firmly that the ideas we need to solve the issues we face are already within the community. So please, make your voice heard.”
The ministerial speech gave special recognition to those with lived experiences of gambling harm, with Doocey emphasizing that protecting vulnerable groups is a crucial part of the national prevention strategy.
“I want to specifically acknowledge those who have experienced gambling harm firsthand, as your insights will offer a strong understanding of what works and what doesn’t at the community level. The proposed strategy strongly focuses on actively involving people with lived experience in our harm prevention and minimization efforts.
“The Government’s mental health and addiction priorities are clearly outlined in the draft strategy to ensure a comprehensive gambling harm support system. These priorities include increasing access to gambling harm support, expanding the gambling harm workforce, strengthening prevention and early intervention efforts, and improving the effectiveness of gambling harm support.
“The government is undertaking a wide range of initiatives across various departments and the broader gambling harm sector to prevent and minimize gambling harm. This includes rolling out services to support those at risk, conducting research to understand the changing gambling landscape, and working to regulate online casinos.”
Additionally, New Zealand plans to introduce a regulated online casino market and aims to implement this by early 2026.
After announcing the plan in July, Brooke van Velden, New Zealand’s Minister of Internal Affairs, confirmed that the strategy will focus on minimizing gambling harm, protecting consumers, and optimizing tax collection from the regulated market.
When the regulations take effect, licensed operators who want to offer online casino products to New Zealanders must comply with specific criteria for advertising and harm minimization.
