Skip to content

Rangatahi/youth and Gambling

Last updated: 30 August 2024

With the rise of "social gambling" more and more young people are at risk of falling into gambling. This article discusses how young people are still susceptible to harmful gambling, despite the gambling age of 18.


"Wait, how can kids have gambling problems? They aren’t old enough to gamble!"

How does our Rangatahi get involved in gambling?

Legally, you do have to be 18 to use pokies, bet at a TAB, or buy an Instant Kiwi. The casinos are supposed to keep out anyone under 20. But there’s no minimum age for Lotto.

 About one in three secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand have ever bet or gambled. This is about one or two students per classroom.

The most common types of gambling among rangatahi are betting with friends or family and playing Instant Kiwi. While uncommon, some students have also reported that they have gambled in casinos, played on pokies in pubs, and made TAB bets. 

Gambling is more common in wealthier communities, but worrying about gambling is generally higher in lower income communities. Of those who have ever gambled, 13% of students wanted to cut down on their gambling, 11% worried some or a lot about their gambling, and 3.5% spent more than $20 per week on gambling

The most common types of gambling among rangatahi are betting with friends or family and playing Instant Kiwi.

Gaming and Gambling are becoming synonymous with each other

There are growing concerns that children and young people who play video games are at risk of experiencing harmful gambling as an adult. 

In 2021, it was reported that more parents in Aotearoa were asking for support for rangatahi who were ‘addicted’ to gaming. This may be because there are features in video games that simulate gambling. These can include:

  • Loot boxes – a reward you can win or buy, but what’s in a box is chance-based. • 
  • Skins (or virtual goods/items that modify the visuals) – these goods can be purchased or obtained through chance. They can even be traded online for money. • 
  • Social casino games – these look and work like games in a casino but instead of playing for money, you win points or in game currency

While research in New Zealand is limited, growing evidence suggests that there parallels between problem gaming and problem gambling behaviour, particularly for those who purchase loot boxes.

In New South Wales (NSW) Australia, a youth gambling study revealed that young people who bought loot boxes and played video games with gambling features are more likely to gamble on some monetary forms. Problematic gamers were also more likely to gamble. 

Another study in Norway found that people who bet on gaming features when they were children and continued gambling online as an adult had higher rates of at-risk and problem gambling as an adult when compared to people who did not bet on gaming features when they were children

Growing evidence suggests that there parallels between problem gaming and problem gambling behaviour, particularly for those who purchase loot boxes.

Whai Awhina?
Need Help?

Free and confidential support for anyone affected by gambling. Our team are available from 8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

Get help now