Hi all - Hope this isn't perceived as a total non
sequitor from food, income and health issues but I
raised the issue of problem gambling a few times in
the past and a couple of people were particularly
interested in studies that utilized geography,
specifically GIS (Geographic Information Systems), to
track gambling and problem gambling prevalence rates. 


The below article from New Zealand utilizes a report
entitled: Problem Gambling Geography.  New Zealand is
the only country in the world, to my knowledge, that
has adopted a public health approach to addressing
gambling and problem gambling.

Regards, Christine

Poorer communities have less to spend, more to gamble 
 
  Author: Brogden, Marcus 
  Source: Stuff.co.nz 
  Published Date: Aug 01, 2006 
 
  Full Document: 
  NEW ZEALAND – The vast majority of problem gamblers
also don't seek help freely available to them,
Ministry of Health gambling project team leader Shayne
Nahu said. He said just 12 per cent of people classed
as problem gamblers have accessed Ministry funded
services. 
"This leaves a huge group in society who have a
gambling problem but either have not yet acknowledged
it or don't know what to do about it. Many of these
come from poorer communities. We have to work harder
to reach and help these people." 

Problem gambling is characterised by symptoms such as
feeling a loss or control over one's gambling, being
preoccupied by gambling, and lying to others to
conceal the extent of involvement, the Ministry said. 

The reports illustrate the discrepancy in gambling
between economically rich and poor communities. 

A 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey showed almost two
thirds of problem gamblers lived in 40 per cent of New
Zealand's most socio-economically deprived areas. 

Meanwhile a report titled Problem Gambling Geography
showed around half of non casino gaming machines
(NCGM) and TABs are located in the 30 per cent most
socio-economically deprived parts of New Zealand. 

The area of the highest number of NCGMs was Greymouth
– 136 per 10000 people, followed by Te Awamutu (92.1),
Whakatane (91.4) and Hawera (89), while west Auckland
had the least. 

The concerns come despite a drop in the number of
people using problem gambling services. 

Statistics for 2005 show a 15.8 per cent drop in
people using Ministry funded specialist problem
gambling services and a 20.9 per cent decrease in the
number of new clients. Mr Nahu said that smokefree
venues, regulatory measures to prevent and minimise
gambling harm, and increasing public awareness of
gambling issues could be behind the drop. The Ministry
has started two screening projects to train GPs and
social service workers to identify people who may have
a gambling-related problem or who may be at risk of
gambling-related harm. 

Mr Nahu said the number of people being referred to
problem gambling services is expected to increase as a
result. 

The Ministry has responsibility under the Gambling Act
2003 for a public health programme to prevent and
minimise gambling harm. It also funds a range of
treatment services to support people and communities
affected by gambling. 

Key findings of the 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey
include: 

• 1.2 per cent of the population are estimated to be
problem gamblers 

• Maori and Pacific people are disproportionately
affected 

• Almost two thirds of problem gamblers live in New
Zealand's 40 per cent most socioeconomically deprived
areas 

• Significant risk factors include being between
25-34, Maori or Pacific ethnicity, lower educational
attainment, being employed and living alone 

• Problem gambling is strongly associated with risky
drinking behaviour and smoking 

• Problem gamblers are more likely to see themselves
as having poor health 

Key findings of the Problem Gambling Geography report
2005 include: 

• Gambling opportunities are widespread through New
Zealand 

• There has been a 13.4 percent drop in the number of
non-casino gaming machines - 25,221 2003 (June 2003)
to 21,846 2005 (June 2005) but their distribution
remains relatively unchanged from 2003. 

• Around half of NCGMs and TABs are located in the 30
per cent most socio-economically deprived areas of New
Zealand. 

 

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