The Problem Gambling Foundation’s mission is building healthy communities together, free from gambling harm. The Foundation is committed to health promotion that contributes to safer gambling practices through community education and the development of regulations and standards. Counselling is free of charge to the gambler, their family and others affected by problem gambling. At the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF) we are trained to help. Our qualified counsellors provide free, professional and confidential gambling counselling services for both gamblers and others affected by gambling. We currently have counsellors working out of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Porirua and Paraparaumu. However, Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude said the organisation was very concerned about the possibility of online Bingo. 'Online instant play games have only just been introduced and now Lotto is considering this,' Froude said.

Healthy communities free from gambling harm

The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF) is a national non-profit organisation predominantly funded by the Ministry of Health with funds received from the gambling levy.
The Foundation is committed to health promotion that contributes to safer gambling practices through community education and the development of regulations and standards. Counselling is free of charge to the gambler, their family and others affected by problem gambling.

Problem Gambling Foundation - Latest News [Page 1]

Pokie Gambling In New Zealand Pubs And Clubs Costing Retail Sector Over $400 Million A Year

Monday, 10 August 2020, 4:57 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

A recent New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) report commissionedby The Salvation Army and the Problem Gambling Foundation estimates that if householdexpenditure on Class 4 pokie gambling was diverted to other uses, the retail sector ... More >>

Pub in Wainuiomata to pause its pokies for a day

Tuesday, 27 August 2019, 3:07 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

The Fitzroy Tavern in Wainuiomata is pausing its pokies for a whole day during GamblingHarm Awareness Week (2-8 September), and is challenging other pubs and clubs to dothe same. More >>

Porirua community members call for stronger action on pokies

Monday, 10 June 2019, 11:03 am Problem Gambling Foundation

Porirua community members will be calling for stronger action on pokies as the CityCouncil wraps up consultation on its proposed Class 4 gambling policy next week. More >>

Council raises the bar with proposed pokies policy

Wednesday, 29 May 2019, 9:55 am Problem Gambling Foundation

The Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) applauds Hamilton City Council on its proposed pokies policy and urges Hamiltonians to have their say. More >>

Pokies being ‘paused’ during Gambling Harm Awareness Week

Tuesday, 21 August 2018, 2:30 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Pubs and clubs from Bluff to Kaitaia will be ‘pausing their pokies’ for an hourduring Gambling Harm Awareness Week, 3 - 9 September. More >>

7th International Gambling Conference

Thursday, 1 February 2018, 2:14 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

An impressive line-up of renowned international and local speakers will feature atthe 7th International Gambling Conference, being held at the Sir Paul Reeves Buildingat AUT University, 12 - 14 February 2018. More >>

Have your say on pokies in Whanganui

Friday, 20 October 2017, 1:33 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Have your say on pokies in Whanganui The Problem Gambling Foundation and Nga TaiO te Awa are encouraging people to have their say on Whanganui District Council’sproposed gambling venues policy. The Council proposes to retain a sinking lid policy, ... More >>

Spreading The Message About Gambling Harm

Friday, 1 September 2017, 12:02 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Next week is Gambling Harm Awareness Week with events and activities taking place around the country from 4-10 September. More >>

Gambling Harm Awareness Week in Lower Hutt

Wednesday, 23 August 2017, 2:28 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Pubs and clubs in Lower Hutt to ‘pause the pokies’ for Gambling Harm AwarenessWeek More >>

Councils urged to stop using funding from pokies

Thursday, 10 August 2017, 3:11 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

The Problem Gambling Foundation is calling on all territorial local authorities tofollow the lead of Hamilton City Council which voted 8-3 to stop using money frompokies to fund projects. More >>

NZ research shows link between gambling and family violence

Monday, 12 June 2017, 1:00 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Recent New Zealand research shows that family violence and abuse is common in peopleseeking help for their own or for someone else’s gambling. More >>

Free Otara event will raise awareness of harmful gambling

Thursday, 1 September 2016, 5:11 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

A free community event themed United Communities Celebrating Healthy Families isbeing held on Saturday 10 September at the Otara Town Centre from 10 am until 2 pm. More >>

Free community day kicks off Gambling Harm Awareness Week

Thursday, 1 September 2016, 4:28 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

A free community day is being held on Saturday 3 September at Linwood Avenue PrimarySchool from 10 am – 2 pm, to kick off Gambling Harm Awareness Week for 2016. More >>

Wellington festival kicks off Gambling Harm Awareness Week

Friday, 26 August 2016, 11:11 am Problem Gambling Foundation

A free community festival is being held on Saturday 3 September on Cuba Mall from11am – 3pm, kicking off Gambling Harm Awareness Week for 2016. More >>

Is It Right? to fund community groups from pokies

Tuesday, 2 August 2016, 11:53 am Problem Gambling Foundation

A new campaign is asking people #Is It Right? to fund community groups from pokieswhen they cause so much harm. The #Is It Right? campaign has been launched by theProblem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF) to encourage people to have their ... More >>

Problem Gambling Foundation CEO resigns

Wednesday, 27 July 2016, 2:56 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

Problem Gambling Foundation CEO resigns After eight and a half years at the helmGraeme Ramsey will step down as CEO of the Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) in January.“This has been a momentous but also deeply satisfying role. It has been an honour ... More >>

Film helps to break down stigma around gambling

Thursday, 26 May 2016, 11:08 am Problem Gambling Foundation

‘Gambling harm can happen to anyone’ is just one of the messages the ProblemGambling Foundation (PGF) hopes people will take away from the New Zealand premiereof Broke the movie. More >>

International line-up at the Gambling Conference

Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 10:12 am Problem Gambling Foundation

International line-up at the 6th International Gambling Conference An impressiveline-up of international and local speakers will feature at the 6th InternationalGambling Conference, being held at the Sir Paul Reeves Building at the Auckland University ... More >>

Long wait worth it for Problem Gambling Foundation

Friday, 24 July 2015, 12:26 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

The Problem Gambling Foundation is delighted with the outcome of the Judicial Reviewand relieved the process is over after a long period of uncertainty for staff andclients. Communications Director, Andree Froude, says while the wheels of justice ... More >>

PGFNZ wins in court

Thursday, 23 July 2015, 4:16 pm Problem Gambling Foundation

We are very pleased to advise that today we have received notification that the Judgehas ruled in our favour. More >>

Auckland Council is expected to vote this week to maintain its sinking lid policy for pokie machines in the region.

But a new report to the council's Regulatory Committee illustrates the sheer scale of problem gambling in South Auckland.

According to the council report over half the people in Auckland seeking treatment for pokie machine gambling addictions are from South Auckland. And just over half of those seeking help are gaming machine users.

New figures released by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) show South Auckland had both the largest number of machines and the highest pokie expenditure for the three months to June 30. Gamblers in the Papakura area spent $1,759,727 on 198 machines, while in Manukau pokie machine users spent $2,710,110 on 180 machines.

Under the Gambling Act 2003, Auckland Council must have its own gambling venue policy and set out whether the council will allow new venues to be established and if so, where they can be located.

Problem Gambling Foundation Nz Foundation

In 2013 Auckland Council agreed to a sinking lid policy for Class 4 pokie machine venues. The policy means no new consents are issued for new venues and prevents the machines from one club being transferred to another if it closes, helping to reduce the overall number of machines.

But under the policy two licensed venues can merge if they reduce the number of machines they have by one-sixth.

In a report to Tuesday's Auckland Council's Regulatory Committee, council officers recommended maintaining the existing sinking lid policy as the number of operators and machines were continuing to decrease. The number of pokie venues in Auckland has decreased by 13 percent since 2016.

But despite the results the majority of the venues continue to be located in high-deprivation areas like South Auckland.

The last review of the council's gambling policy in 2016 found the number of machines had decreased by 11 percent, but overall takings had increased by 10 percent.

Problem Gambling Foundation Nz Foundation

Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude said while the council's sinking lid policy was one way to reduce the harm caused by gaming machines, by itself it isn't enough.

'Sinking lids take so long because they rely on venues closing, and we're not seeing that in our more deprived communities in areas like South Auckland,' she said. 'When you walk down the street in South Auckland there are venues everywhere.

'We're still seeing the impact of gambling harm on people in these communities. These people are losing money to gambling they can't afford to lose.'

Froude said despite the fact the number of pokie machines was declining, the amount people were spending wasn't.

'The spending on pokies is going up and up.'

Froude said the wider issue of community groups being funded by pokie machine proceeds also needed to be addressed, because the money was coming from the country's poorest communities.

According to the Auckland Council report 40 percent of pokie machine proceeds were turned into grants to community organisations.

The council report cited a Ministry of Health 2017 study which found individual gambling produced the same level of harm as high alcohol consumption, anxiety and depression.

'Cumulatively the harm is close to twice that of drug use disorders, bipolar affective disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia combined.'

The council report said Māori public health organisation Hāpai te Hauora identified that, along with the immediate financial impact problem gambling had, it could also result in criminal activity, child neglect, depression and anxiety and strained relationships.

But according to the Ministry of Health only 16 percent of problem gamblers seek treatment.

Auckland Council Regulatory Committee chairperson Linda Cooper said she couldn't comment or vote on the issue as she had a conflict of interest as president of the Waitakere Licensing Trust, a West Auckland-based trust which operates pokie machines.

The Regulatory Committee's deputy chairperson Josephine Bartley was unavailable for comment.

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