Gaming in New Zealand

John Markland

Gaming is now an integral part of New Zealand society. The industry has grown rapidly over the last decade so that it now has significant social and economic impacts. Gaming is highly visible, its annual turnover is in the billions, and it raises hundreds of millions of dollars each year for community purposes.

The gaming industry is still growing and in ways that are increasingly difficult to regulate, yet there has been never been a coherent policy framework to manage this growth. The downside of gaming is evident in the number of people with gambling problems. In April 1995 the Government announced a review of gaming intended to develop such a framework.

This paper begins by describing the legislation that governs gaming in New Zealand, and looks at anomalies and inconsistencies and the impact of new technology. It then outlines the growth in gaming over the last decade, and summarises its impacts, including the benefits (eg, job creation, entertainment and community fundraising) and costs (eg, problem gambling and crime).

The paper concludes that the review offers the challenge to balance the economic and social benefits of each type of gaming against the potential harms.