About us

Our vision: A future where Aotearoa New Zealand is free from gambling harm

Safer Gambling Aotearoa is supported by the Health New Zealand Health Promotion Directorate Minimising Gambling Harm programme. It works with communities experiencing disproportionate gambling harm to build greater resilience – primarily Māori, Pacific Peoples, Asian communities and rangatahi/youth.

Gambling is now accessible 24/7 and aggressively promoted, yet awareness of the harm it causes remains low.

Almost $2.8 billion is lost by Kiwi households to gambling every year. This creates financial stress and debt. It impacts on mental health, social connection and work productivity. It challenges relationships with whānau/family, friends and colleagues.

Safer Gambling Aotearoa believes there would be more joy, happiness and financial stability in whānau and communities if gambling harm is acknowledged and addressed. The programme works to increase awareness, understanding and action-taking around gambling harm.

It uses international and local evidence, clinical experience, lived experience of gambling and a public health approach with best-practice behaviour influencing principles. It has four outcome areas:

• Shifted perspectives – harm is better understood, denial of harm is reduced and stigma is challenged.
• Empowered communities – increased resilience in communities most at risk.
• Earlier self-help – harm identified and addressed early.
• Facilitated professional help – individuals and whānau find ways out and stay harm-free.

Safer Gambling Aotearoa enables people who gamble, and those close to them, to avoid harm in the first place or get out of harm if they have been swept away by products that are often deliberately designed to encourage more gambling more often.

About this site

This site has support and information for people whose gambling is affecting them or is starting to become an issue and for people worried about someone else’s gambling. It also has facts and figures about gambling in New Zealand.