International Gambling Conference New Zealand

International Conference Calls. Conference calls from over 50 countries. New Zealand 09-887 3488. Norway 23 96 01 42. Panama 833-9020. Peru (01) 7087243. In New Zealand gambling harm is taken seriously – the comprehensive range of presentations from New Zealand providers at this Conference is testament to that. Since its enactment in 2003, the Gambling Act's emphasis on public health has remained a central focus of the Ministry of Health's strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm.

Peter Dunne

10 FEBRUARY,2016

Speech to the International GamblingConference 2016, Auckland

Tena koutou katoa, goodmorning and thank you for the invitation to speak today atthe opening of the Sixth International GamblingConference.

This is an important event in the national andinternational gambling calendar and I am pleased to notethat it is my first official speaking engagement in NewZealand for 2016.

The theme of the conference isPreventing harm in a shifting gambling environment:Challenges, Policies and Strategies.

Once again, this yearthe conference is host to a wide range of internationaldelegates.

I would like to begin by welcoming all of you,in particular our international guests and distinguishedspeakers, some of whom have travelled from around the globeto be here.

There are approximately 250 delegates herefrom 12 different countries which accounts for the diversityof the programme, which I note includes presentations fromAustralia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece,Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the USA and NewZealand.

In particular I would like toacknowledge:

• Professor Stacey Tovino from the Schoolof Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA

• AssociateProfessor Darrel Manitowabi from the Anthropology Programmeat Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada

• ProfessorNerilee Hing from Southern Cross University, Lismore,Australia, and

• Dr Barry Duncan, therapist, trainer andresearcher, from the USA.

I would also like to acknowledgethose visitors from overseas and within New Zealand whoyesterday participated in the International Indigenous Eventand those who will attend the International Think Tank onGambling Policy and Research Practice next week.

Inaddition to my role of Associate Minister of Health, I amalso the Minister of Internal Affairs.

I have held both ofthese roles at various stages over the last two decades orso, however, this is the first time I have done so at thesame time.

The significance of that is that as Minister ofInternal Affairs I am essentially the regulator, whereas asAssociate of Health I am responsible for minimising theadverse effects of gambling.

It is pleasing to see thestrong linkages that exist between the Department ofInternal Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

I see the‘dovetailing' of these two ministerial roles as apositive, enabling me to maintain a broad overview of thewider gambling and harm minimisation sectors.

NewZealand's Gambling Act was passed in 2003.

It is a largeand complex piece of legislation, which notably includesprovision to 'prevent and minimise harm from gambling,including problem gambling'.

The Department of InternalAffairs administers the Gambling Act and although it isconsidered to be, by and large, still working, it is nowtimely to have another look at how the Act operates.

Ibelieve that some change is warranted.

An assessment willbe undertaken of the regulatory environment.

Thisassessment will be about better understanding the dynamicsof the Class 4 or non-casino electronic gaming machinessector, and in the wider gambling environment, and what theymean for the current regulatory framework.

I am verypleased that the Class 4 operators have established theirown representative group to work with the Department on thisprocess, and am looking forward to what I hope will be aconstructive interaction.

In the next couple of months,once my Ministerial colleagues and I have received somepreliminary advice, we will decide on the next steps.

Thatsaid, it is clear to me that we need to restore greaterpublic confidence in the Class 4 gambling sector.

Gamingor ‘pokie' machine operators are obliged to prevent andminimise the harm that gambling can cause.

Research, andour own service user data, shows that there is a need tostrengthen performance in this area.

I understand that theHealth Promotion Agency has done some work with venue staffacross the country to find out what barriers and challengesthey face in undertaking their host responsibilityobligations with gambling customers.

Work has been done onsupport materials to make these interactions easier forvenue staff and this material was distributed forcirculation late last year.

The Health PromotionAgency's work aims to initiate long-term behaviour change,so that over time venue staff will take an increasedinterest in all gambling behaviour.

Four bears casino fishing tournament results. Public confidence willonly be built by a demonstrable commitment to playerprotection and basing the industry on responsible gambling,not on those gambling to excess.

In New Zealand gamblingharm is taken seriously – the comprehensive range ofpresentations from New Zealand providers at this Conferenceis testament to that.

Since its enactment in 2003, theGambling Act's emphasis on public health has remained acentral focus of the Ministry of Health's strategy toprevent and minimise gambling harm.

From 1 July 2016, thelatest 2016/17 to 2018/19 Strategy comes into play.

Itcalls for an innovative approach.

The proposal documentoutlining the new strategy is currently featured on theMinistry's website.

The Strategy has always emphasisedthe need to address gambling-related health inequities,particularly the relatively high prevalence of gambling harmamong Māori and Pacific peoples.

The 2012 NationalGambling Study confirmed this higher prevalence, andconcluded that such inequities had persisted since the firstnational gambling study was conducted in 1991.

It alsoindicated that many moderate-risk problem gamblers wereMāori, Pacific or Asian.

Many of you work inproblem-gambling treatment services dedicated to thosetarget populations, and there is evidence that you arereaching the people you need.

Recent increases in serviceuptake by Pacific peoples meant that by 2013/14 almost 60percent of help-seekers were Māori, Pacific or EastAsian.

This means it is also important that all ourservices have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs ofthis culturally diverse country in which we live.

Despitemany encouraging developments, more could and should bedone.

Accordingly, perhaps the most important proposal inthe draft Strategy for 2016/17 to 2018/19 is a long-termpriority action to develop, pilot, evaluate and implementone or more initiatives specifically focused on reducingpersistent gambling harm-related health inequities.

Weknow that those living in more deprived areas are also morelikely to experience gambling harm.

Rates of hazardousdrinking, tobacco use, other drug use and psychologicaldistress tend to be much higher among problem gamblers, andto a lesser extent, among moderate-risk and low-riskgamblers, than in the general population.

The new Strategywill continue work to align services to prevent and minimisegambling harm and other health and social services over thenext three years.

A number of stakeholders have consideredthe patterns of online gambling in overseas jurisdictionsand raised concerns about the potential for a dramaticincrease in New Zealanders' participation in onlinegambling, due to proposals to increase internet speed andcapacity and increasing use of online payment methods.

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Theresearch findings on this topic are inconclusive.

Moststudies suggest that the majority of online gamblers in NewZealand, of which there are relatively few, still largelypurchase only New Zealand Lotteries Commission and NewZealand Racing Board projects.

The Ministry of Health willcontinue to monitor developments in this area.

Ourstrategy includes a focus on prevention using a populationbased health approach, and importantly it also incorporatesa research component that includes population surveys ongambling, clinical trials, and service evaluations.

TheMinistry is currently funding a National Gambling Study –the largest piece of gambling research undertaken in NewZealand in the last fifteen years.

The study started in2012 and involved face-to-face interviews with 6,251 NewZealanders aged 18 years or older.

The first three reportsfrom this study were on gambling participation, gamblingharm, attitudes towards gambling in 2012.

The NationalGambling Study found in 2012 that most adults in New Zealandgamble at least occasionally – around 80 percentparticipate in gambling at least once a year.

However,only a minority participate in any gambling activity otherthan buying New Zealand Lotteries commission products orraffle tickets.

For example, 62 percent of adults bought aLotto ticket at least once in the previous year, but only 14percent played a pokie machine.

The fourth and latestNational Gambling Study report, published in 2015, providesupdated evidence on gambling participation and problemgambling in 2013.

It includes an examination of gamblerstransitions both to, and away from, higher risk gambling anddiscusses the factors associated with thesetransitions.

This report is notable in providing for thefirst time, national ‘incidence' estimates.

This meansthat this is the first study in New Zealand and only thesecond national study in the world to assess the number ofpeople who develop a problem for the first time – as wellas assess the number who relapse and the number who ceasehaving problems.

To reduce the incidence and prevalence ofproblem gambling and other gambling-related harms, bothpopulation-wide prevention strategies and those tailored toat-risk groups are needed – including preventionstrategies for high risk ethnic groups.

Long-standingdisparities will persist and potentially deepen, unless moreeffective ways are found to address this issue.

Theresearch identified a number of additional factors that putpeople at risk of becoming moderate-risk or problemgamblers, including gambling frequency.

Those who tookpart in ten or more gambling activities in the 12 monthperiod were nearly sixteen times more likely to become aproblem or moderate-risk gambler than adults who hadparticipated in just one gambling activity over the sametimeframe.

Two research projects in particular have caughtmy eye – in 2014 the Ministry commissioned a feasibilitystudy on a smart-phone application to prevent gambling harmassociated with EGM venues and also a pilot of a financialliteracy programme for Māori and Pacific clients.

Thesmart phone ‘app' uses GPS location mapping to send harmminimisation messages or video to clients when they areapproaching venues or are in them to help them keep to theirgoals.

The initial findings from the smart-phone study arepromising, and indicate the application is technicallyreliable and is supported by clients and counsellors.

Thisis the first time GPS location mapping is being used withsmart-phone technology to address gambling-related harm inNew Zealand (and possibly internationally as well).

Thefindings from the financial literacy study indicate thatboth clients and counsellors increased their financialknowledge and skills and improved their ability to addressgambling-related debt and spending.

Through our researchprogramme we are fortunate to be able to generate qualityevidence on changes in gambling-related harm over time, andthe effectiveness of interventions for preventing andminimising this harm.

This allows the Ministry, the NewZealand public and sector stakeholders to be informed aboutthe impact of gambling.

This conference gives us theopportunity to share knowledge and expertise from ourcollective experience.

This is a chance for you asparticipants to find out about the work and researchprogrammes underway across the world, and perhaps closer tohome as well.

For all of you, whether you are working toprevent and minimise gambling-related harm, to providetreatment and support to people experiencing gambling harm,or to undertake research, connecting and communicating is afundamental part of your role.

From 1 July 2016, thelatest 2016/17 to 2018/19 Strategy comes into play.

Itcalls for an innovative approach.

The proposal documentoutlining the new strategy is currently featured on theMinistry's website.

The Strategy has always emphasisedthe need to address gambling-related health inequities,particularly the relatively high prevalence of gambling harmamong Māori and Pacific peoples.

The 2012 NationalGambling Study confirmed this higher prevalence, andconcluded that such inequities had persisted since the firstnational gambling study was conducted in 1991.

It alsoindicated that many moderate-risk problem gamblers wereMāori, Pacific or Asian.

Many of you work inproblem-gambling treatment services dedicated to thosetarget populations, and there is evidence that you arereaching the people you need.

Recent increases in serviceuptake by Pacific peoples meant that by 2013/14 almost 60percent of help-seekers were Māori, Pacific or EastAsian.

This means it is also important that all ourservices have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs ofthis culturally diverse country in which we live.

Despitemany encouraging developments, more could and should bedone.

Accordingly, perhaps the most important proposal inthe draft Strategy for 2016/17 to 2018/19 is a long-termpriority action to develop, pilot, evaluate and implementone or more initiatives specifically focused on reducingpersistent gambling harm-related health inequities.

Weknow that those living in more deprived areas are also morelikely to experience gambling harm.

Rates of hazardousdrinking, tobacco use, other drug use and psychologicaldistress tend to be much higher among problem gamblers, andto a lesser extent, among moderate-risk and low-riskgamblers, than in the general population.

The new Strategywill continue work to align services to prevent and minimisegambling harm and other health and social services over thenext three years.

A number of stakeholders have consideredthe patterns of online gambling in overseas jurisdictionsand raised concerns about the potential for a dramaticincrease in New Zealanders' participation in onlinegambling, due to proposals to increase internet speed andcapacity and increasing use of online payment methods.

International Gambling Conference New Zealand 2020

Theresearch findings on this topic are inconclusive.

Moststudies suggest that the majority of online gamblers in NewZealand, of which there are relatively few, still largelypurchase only New Zealand Lotteries Commission and NewZealand Racing Board projects.

The Ministry of Health willcontinue to monitor developments in this area.

Ourstrategy includes a focus on prevention using a populationbased health approach, and importantly it also incorporatesa research component that includes population surveys ongambling, clinical trials, and service evaluations.

TheMinistry is currently funding a National Gambling Study –the largest piece of gambling research undertaken in NewZealand in the last fifteen years.

The study started in2012 and involved face-to-face interviews with 6,251 NewZealanders aged 18 years or older.

The first three reportsfrom this study were on gambling participation, gamblingharm, attitudes towards gambling in 2012.

The NationalGambling Study found in 2012 that most adults in New Zealandgamble at least occasionally – around 80 percentparticipate in gambling at least once a year.

However,only a minority participate in any gambling activity otherthan buying New Zealand Lotteries commission products orraffle tickets.

For example, 62 percent of adults bought aLotto ticket at least once in the previous year, but only 14percent played a pokie machine.

The fourth and latestNational Gambling Study report, published in 2015, providesupdated evidence on gambling participation and problemgambling in 2013.

It includes an examination of gamblerstransitions both to, and away from, higher risk gambling anddiscusses the factors associated with thesetransitions.

This report is notable in providing for thefirst time, national ‘incidence' estimates.

This meansthat this is the first study in New Zealand and only thesecond national study in the world to assess the number ofpeople who develop a problem for the first time – as wellas assess the number who relapse and the number who ceasehaving problems.

To reduce the incidence and prevalence ofproblem gambling and other gambling-related harms, bothpopulation-wide prevention strategies and those tailored toat-risk groups are needed – including preventionstrategies for high risk ethnic groups.

Long-standingdisparities will persist and potentially deepen, unless moreeffective ways are found to address this issue.

Theresearch identified a number of additional factors that putpeople at risk of becoming moderate-risk or problemgamblers, including gambling frequency.

Those who tookpart in ten or more gambling activities in the 12 monthperiod were nearly sixteen times more likely to become aproblem or moderate-risk gambler than adults who hadparticipated in just one gambling activity over the sametimeframe.

Two research projects in particular have caughtmy eye – in 2014 the Ministry commissioned a feasibilitystudy on a smart-phone application to prevent gambling harmassociated with EGM venues and also a pilot of a financialliteracy programme for Māori and Pacific clients.

Thesmart phone ‘app' uses GPS location mapping to send harmminimisation messages or video to clients when they areapproaching venues or are in them to help them keep to theirgoals.

The initial findings from the smart-phone study arepromising, and indicate the application is technicallyreliable and is supported by clients and counsellors.

Thisis the first time GPS location mapping is being used withsmart-phone technology to address gambling-related harm inNew Zealand (and possibly internationally as well).

Thefindings from the financial literacy study indicate thatboth clients and counsellors increased their financialknowledge and skills and improved their ability to addressgambling-related debt and spending.

Through our researchprogramme we are fortunate to be able to generate qualityevidence on changes in gambling-related harm over time, andthe effectiveness of interventions for preventing andminimising this harm.

This allows the Ministry, the NewZealand public and sector stakeholders to be informed aboutthe impact of gambling.

This conference gives us theopportunity to share knowledge and expertise from ourcollective experience.

This is a chance for you asparticipants to find out about the work and researchprogrammes underway across the world, and perhaps closer tohome as well.

For all of you, whether you are working toprevent and minimise gambling-related harm, to providetreatment and support to people experiencing gambling harm,or to undertake research, connecting and communicating is afundamental part of your role.

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This conference is anexcellent opportunity for you all to connect and communicatewith each other, to learn from each other, and to continueto build on your knowledge and expertise.

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I encourage youall to make the most of the opportunity.

I, and thisgovernment, take gambling harm seriously, and I willcontinue to push the Ministry to ensure it is deriving thebest value for money from the approximately $18 millioninvested in preventing and minimising gambling harm thisyear.

I would like to reiterate my best wishes to you allfor a productive and informative few days.

To our overseasguests, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the diversesights, sounds, food, drink and activities that Auckland andNew Zealand have to offer.

I thank you for yourattention, and I wish you well in yourwork.

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