source: pixabay.comNew Zealand’s love affair with gambling increased again in the fiscal year 2020/21.
New data released by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs this week showed that Kiwis spent in total NZ$2.63bn over 12 months. The figure represents a 17% increase from the 2019/2020 fiscal year.
When it comes to New Zealand’s favourite pastime – pokies – spending outside of the casinos increased by 23% to NZ$987m. The overall spend is now at its highest level in five years.
Andree Froude, the Problem Gambling Foundation Spokesperson, spoke of the concerns over the rising gambling spend.
Froude said: “It certainly shows that Kiwis returned to gambling after the lockdown restrictions ended, spending the equivalent of NZ$730 for every adult in the country. The spend on pokies in Aotearoa is fast approaching NZ$1bn and that is money coming out of some of our poorest communities.
“Over 60% of pokie venues are situated in medium high to very high deprivation areas so the money being lost is coming from people who can least afford to lose it.”
“Gambling harm is a serious social issue in this country, disproportionately impacting Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities. Class 4 pokies are the most harmful form of gambling with nearly 50% of people seeking help for gambling citing pokies in pubs, clubs and TABs as their main form of gambling.”
Last week, the New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti, announced a review into the harm caused by gambling. Public consultation on reducing the harm from pokies started on March 17th, 2022, and will run for six weeks.
