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What Actually is "Harmful Gambling"?

Last updated: 14 January 2025

It might seem like a simple answer, but harmful gambling is more than "gambling that causes harm". This article deep dives into what harmful gambling actually is and how its measured.


Definition

The Gambling Act 2003 defines harm from gambling as “harm or distress of any kind arising from, or caused or exacerbated by, a person’s gambling; and includes personal, social, or economic harm suffered”.

This is a broad definition and indicates that harmful gambling is experienced on a continuum.
Harm may include damage to relationships, emotional and psychological distress (including stress and anxiety), disruptions to work or study, loss of income, the financial cost of gambling, and fraud and related crimes, which can also impact negatively on the gambler’s family, whānau and community. Gambling may also contribute to child neglect and family violence.

The Ministry of Health uses a continuum-of-harm approach which describes levels of gambling behaviour and its associated harm as non-problem, mild, moderate, and severe (problem) gambling.
These categories have been aligned with the Problem Gambling Severity Index (or PGSI), which the Ministry uses to monitor the level of harmful gambling behaviour in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A low-risk gambler may experience mild gambling harm – this usually indicates a low level of problems with few or no identified negative consequences. For example, they may very occasionally spend over their limit or feel guilty about their gambling.

A moderate-risk gambler may experience moderate gambling harm – this usually indicates a moderate level of problems leading to some negative consequences.

For example, they may sometimes spend more than they can afford, lose track of time or feel guilty about their gambling.

A problem or high-risk gambler may experience severe gambling harm – this usually indicates gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control.

For example, they may often spend over their limit, gamble to win back money and feel stressed about their gambling.

The Ministry of Health uses a continuum-of-harm approach which describes levels of gambling behaviour and its associated harm as non-problem, mild, moderate, and severe (problem) gambling

Harmful gambling vs Problem gambling

The terms ‘harmful gambling’ and ‘problem gambling’ can often be confused or misused.
Harmful gambling uses the broad definition of ‘harm’ from the Act and refers to all those experiencing mild, moderate, and severe gambling.

Problem gambling only refers to those experiencing severe harm from gambling and reflects the very sharp end of those experiencing gambling harm.

Who is bearing the burden of gambling harm?

Gambling affects people from all walks of life. While many New Zealanders who gamble do so without experiencing harm, a significant minority will cause harm through their gambling to themselves and/or harm others.

Research shows that some groups experience gambling harm disproportionately. This includes:

Māori and Pacific peoples

  • Māori are 3.13 times more likely to be moderate-risk or problem gamblers than non-Māori and non-Pacific peoples.
     
  • Pacific peoples are 2.56 times more likely to be moderate-risk or problem gamblers than non-Māori and non-Pacific peoples.
     
  • Māori and Pacific people are also more likely to have other risk factors for gambling harm, such as low incomes and living in low socioeconomic communities where some forms of gambling, particularly Class 4 gambling, are more accessible.

Some Asian communities

  • The proportion of Asian peoples who gamble is relatively low compared with Māori, Pacific peoples and European/Other.
     
  • However, Asian peoples’ risk factor for harmful gambling is 9.5 times higher when compared with European/Other.

Young people/rangatahi

  • While a lower proportion of rangatahi gamble, young people make up approximately 14% of moderate-risk and problem gamblers.

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