GAMBLING HELPLINE WORKS

NZCT is welcoming evidence that shows New Zealand’s problem gambling intervention services are working well. A recently released AUT study led by Professor Max Abbot, tracked 462 Gambling Helpline callers and found that, after a year, three-quarters of them had quit or significantly reduced their gambling. NZCT Chief Executive, Mike Knell, says the study is good news for all parts of the community – the gamblers, their families and the thousands of community organisations who benefit from pokie grants.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL GAMBLING REVIEW

NZCT is urging Auckland Council not to implement a sinking lid policy for gaming machines, as this will reduce community funding and do nothing to address problem gambling rates. Instead, NZCT proposes Council set gaming machine numbers according to the risk assessment of problem gambling in each ward, and allow machines to be relocated out of high risk areas. You can read NZCT's submisson and presentation here.

COMMUNITY GAMING RESEARCH

The Lion Foundation recently commissioned Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) to take an in-depth look at New Zealand's class 4 gambling industry. NZCT contributed to this research because we felt it was important for an independent body to fully assess the benefits of the current gaming model, and evaluate what improvements (if any) could be made to it. BERL's research uncovered some very useful statistics and found that the community gaming model provides a positive net benefit to New Zealand. You can read the BERL report here.