Measuring the Gambling-Related Financial Harms Experienced by Whānau and Affected Others
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New evidence from Greo Evidence Insights, in partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand, has uncovered the significant financial harms experienced by the partners, family, and friends of people who gamble – referred to as “affected others.”
The report Measuring the Gambling-Related Financial Harms Experienced by Whānau and Affected Others and Identifying Mitigating Practices, commissioned by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, is one of the first studies of its kind in New Zealand to focus specifically on the financial impacts experienced by affected others.
The research reveals that over three in four people affected by another’s gambling experienced direct financial harm, including overdue bills, lost savings, and reduced spending money. These harms were often accompanied by emotional stress, relationship strain, and economic control exerted by the person gambling.
“Gambling harm doesn’t just affect the person gambling, it ripples through families and communities,” says Sasha Stark PhD, Director of Evaluation and Implementation Research at Greo Evidence Insights. “By bringing together lived experience, cultural knowledge and insight, and a review of existing research and regulations, we can better understand how financial systems and policy decisions might mitigate or exacerbate the financial harms experienced by affected others.”
