Understanding and addressing problem gambling

1
Understanding and addressing problem gambling

• Plenary Session II Policy/Measures
• to Address Problem Gambling

5-6 July 2007 Samson Tse
Acknowledgements Ministry of Health Department
of Internal Affairs Problem Gambling Foundation
2
Measure 1 Gambling activities

• 1988-1998
• Lotto national, weekly
• Gambling machines available in clubs/hotels/casino
  s
• Instant Kiwi
• Horse/dogs racing
• Casinos in Auckland and Christchurch
• Daily Keno, Powerball
• Sports betting managed by TAB
• Telephone gambling games

• Post 1998
• Increased no. of gambling machines
• 6 casinos operating in NZ
• Offshore betting via Internet
• Gambling via mobile phones

• Pre 1987
• TAB / Track
• Golden Kiwi
• Housie/Raffles (Community fund raising)

3
Measure 2 Gambling expenditure
http//www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Expend
stats06/file/Expendstats06.pdf
4
Measure 3 Who are affected by G-harms

• 1.4 (0.8 PG 0.6 PaG 12 mn) of the population
  is affected by problem or probable pathological
  gambling (DIA, 1999, highly conservative)
• Prevalence and incidence
• Affects 5-7 other people (family- local
  overseas, friends, workmates)
• Only 10-15 of individuals with problem gambling
  seek help
• 80 clients said pokies were the primary cause
  of their problem

5
MCYS National Gambling Prevalence Survey of
Singapore Residents, 04-05 Petry, 2005
6
Contd

• Every year New Zealanders lose about 2 billion
  gambling or 5.5 million every day
• Every three dollars lost, only ONE dollar returns
  to the community

7
Measure 4 Clients presenting to PG services

• 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6
• Maori 33.3 29 29.4 (14.6)
• Pacific 8.8 9.3 9.2 (6.9)
• European 52.7 50.8 48.6 (67.6)
• Asian 3.5 5.9 8.1 (9.2)
• Other 1.7 5.0 5.3 (10)
• Source Ministry of Health

8
Contd dollars lost in 4 weeks
9
Contd Gambling modes
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Measure 5 Gambling in general population

• Concept of continuum
• Modes of gambling
• General vs
• clinical population
• Ethnic group variations

• Low income households, one who are least able to
  afford ( high income too?)
• Maori and Pacific people are overrepresented in
  treatment statistics
• Prison inmates individuals under probation

• Women
• Young people
• Older people
• Individuals working in gambling industry (Tse,
  Wong Kim, 2004)

Compare MCYS National Gambling Prevalence
Survey of Singapore Residents, 04-05
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Rotorua Daily Post Rotorua leaders plan to ban
any new pokies machine outlets in poorer parts of
the city because the risk of problem gambling is
so great. The majority of the city's problem
gamblers are addicted..
Measure 6 G and crime

• NZ Herald SYDNEY - A former high-flying public
  relations consultant became involved in insider
  trading to help her son recover his gambling
  losses

Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney   It is the world
record of which Australia is least proud More
than 80 of its adult population gambles, the
highest rate on the planet. The prestigious
Melbourne Cup is also a huge gambling...
NZ Herald  A 22-year-old accountant has been
jailed for defrauding the Inland Revenue
Department of more than half a million...
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(No Transcript)
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Problem gambling among Asian peoples in New
Zealand
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eXtreme mystery

• Majority of Asian New Zealanders spend little or
  nothing on gambling.
• But
• a significant minority who spend substantial
  sums on a regular basis (eg VIP)
• Disproportionate level of presence in gambling
  venue

Prevalence study?
15
Contd X-mystery

• Asian clients represented 6 of the total
  face-to face counselling clients population BUT
  contributed 35.4 of the amount of money lost
• (Ministry of Health, 2006)

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Possible pathways

• Coping of post-migration adjustment difficulties
• Part of acculturation process

(Raylu Oei, 2002)
17
Policy New Zealand's national strategy/approach
to tackle problem gambling (Ministry of Health)
18
Contd 10 principles

• Whole of government approach
• Cultural relevance
• Reducing health inequalities
• Continuum of harms and interventions

19
Contd
MoH, 2006, p. 13
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Contd

• Long term approach
• Population health approach
• Primary prevention public health services
  strategies
• Secondary and tertiary prevention Intervention
  services
• Evidence-informed approach
• Workforce development

http//www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/0320D2273BDBF
732CC256FB80009EF74/File/problemgambling-strategi
cplan-2004-2010.pdf
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Summary Policy measure

• Compulsion
• Loss of Control
• Continue to gamble despite Consequence
• (see McCown Howatt, 2007)

• Clinical intervention (evidence-informed)
• Counselling (professional, confidential free,
  certification?)
• Coordinated approach (good buy-in, intersectoral
  approach)

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Summary Policy measure

• Gambling or PG among Asian peoples
• Shame
• Stigma
• Secrecy

• Healthy lifestyle
• Harm minimisation
• Regulation enforcement
• Host responsibility
• Local central government
• Health promotion
• Empowerment participation
• Strengths capacity building
• Education awareness raising
• Community action development
• Ottawa Charter, Bangkok Charter
• (Raeburn et al., 2006)