In 2006 New Zealand’s gambling industry distributed almost NZ$300 million (US$221.5 million) to charitable and community groups. In the view of Charity Gaming Association chairman Paul East, profits from gambling are benefiting hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders every year. In the eyes of John Stansfield, CEO of the Problem Gambling Foundation, the community suffers more in social costs than it gains is funding.

Describing the practice as an utterly failed experiment in community funding, John Stansfield points out that until the recent change in attitude towards smoking, community groups were reliant on payouts from tobacco companies. Gambling, according to him, is equally unsustainable and causes community organisations and sports groups to become highly dependent on gambling as a source of income.

On the other hand, Paul East comments that many people will always gamble and that at least some of the profits are being returned to the community. The money comes from New Zealand’s gaming machines in pubs and clubs and is used to fund projects such as help for under-privileged children and sports facilities. However, he admits that there can be a thin line between maximising benefits and minimising potential harm.

In response to the harm caused by problem gambling, the Charity Gaming Association spends millions of dollars annually on services for gambling addicts. Its policy is to single out and treat the early signs of problem gambling and to make gambling in New Zealand as responsible as possible. Gambling is, after all, mostly to do with individual choice. (E-05.14.07)

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