New Zealand's Minister of Mental Health, Matt Doocey, recently announced the latest revision of the national strategy for the prevention and control of gambling harm. This strategy is backed by a special investment totaling 81 million New Zealand dollars (approximately 49.1 million US dollars), focusing on enhancing preventive measures and providing more systematic support services for individuals affected by gambling.
According to Doocey, this new strategy will serve as a guiding framework for the national action plan, aiming to fundamentally reduce the long-term impact of gambling-related issues on individuals, families, and communities. The strategy also plans an independent evaluation in the 2025/26 fiscal year to ensure the precision and sustainability of policy responses.
The core content of this update covers three key areas: prevention, intervention, and the construction of treatment pathways. A crucial initiative is the introduction of 18 new clinical internship positions, aimed at expanding New Zealand's professional workforce dealing with gambling harm. Notably, the plan also opens the door for individuals who have been troubled by gambling and are in recovery to transition into registered clinical practitioners.
Doocey emphasized at the press conference: "One-fifth of New Zealanders will be affected by gambling in various ways throughout their lives, which is not only a personal dilemma but can also tear apart family structures and even affect the stability of entire communities. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a practical and realistic anti-gambling strategy."
He specifically thanked those who provided personal experiences and suggestions during the consultation phase: "It is your voices that allow us to more accurately identify which support methods are truly effective, and also make this strategy more closely aligned with the actual needs of the community."
It is understood that the formulation process of this new version of the strategy took several months and involved extensive public consultation through two rounds, especially gathering genuine feedback from players and family members affected by gambling.
The timing of this revision's release is also quite significant. In January of this year, the Rangitikei District Council in New Zealand just initiated an evaluation procedure for its local gambling policy, showing a strengthening national consensus on enhancing gambling regulation.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government recently rejected a license application for an online casino worth 150 million New Zealand dollars proposed by the gambling company The Tab, indicating a cautious stance on gambling policy consistent with the overall strategic direction.
