The aim of this project was to systematically investigate gambling-related harm in New Zealand, and assess the aggregate ‘Burden of Harm’ caused by gambling with reference to different levels of problem gambling, and other comparable conditions. This improved understanding of the quality and quantity of harm is intended to help improve target efforts to prevent or reduce the potential negative consequences of problem gambling.
This report also outlines important findings, including:
- The total burden of harms occurring to gamblers is greater than common health conditions (such as diabetes and arthritis) and is close to the level of harm incurred from anxiety and depressive disorders
- The 'burden of harm' emerges primarily from problems with relationships, emotional/psychological distress, disruptions to work/study and financial challenges
- Although some of this ‘burden of harm’ was concentrated in problem gamblers, the results suggested that at a population level, the majority of harm is accruing to those who are not necessarily problem gamblers.
This study was a joint project between Australia’s Central Queensland University’s (CQU) Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory and Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, commissioned by the New Zealand Ministry of Health
Along with the full report, a factsheet is also available which summarizes the project and their findings.
