Ministry releases "Raising the Odds" problem gambling study

Raising the Odds? Gambling behaviour and neighbourhood access to gambling venues in New Zealand
The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce the release of the Public Health Intelligence report "Raising the Odds".

The report presents the results from a study which investigated whether there were any associations between people’s gambling behaviour, and their local gambling environment. The study analysed the 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey, and included information about the locations of non-casino gaming machine venues, casinos, and TAB venues.

This study found that gambling behaviour was significantly associated with gambling accessibility. In particular, people who lived closer to gambling venues were more likely to have gambled at those types of venues in the last year, and were also more likely to be problem gamblers.

"The more gambling venues there were within 5 kilometres of a person’s neighbourhood centre, the more likely it was that the person had gambled at a gambling venue in the last year," said Dr Barry Borman, Manager, Public Health Intelligence.

"Comparatively little research has been carried out on the link between accessibility to gambling venues and gambling-related harm. These findings offer us some positive ideas for policies aimed at preventing and minimising gambling-related harm, and environmental modifications, which increase people’s distance to gambling venues, could be considered as a result of this study."

The study was a joint project between Public Health Intelligence, the epidemiology group of the Ministry of Health, and the GeoHealth Laboratory at the University of Canterbury.

Anyone concerned about gambling or gambling-related problems is encouraged to call the Gambling Helpline (0800 654 655).