New Zealand gambling harm prevention strategy and iGaming future
New Zealand’s gambling harm prevention strategy is making headlines across both the public health sector and the global iGaming industry. With a bold NZ$81 million investment and a renewed regulatory vision, the country is setting a precedent for how digital entertainment markets can address player protection and societal well-being in tandem with rapid technological change.
A significant commitment to reducing harm
In early June 2025, New Zealand’s Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, outlined an ambitious plan to mitigate the impact of gambling-related harm. The newly revised strategy is underpinned by NZ$81 million in funding and aims to improve access to support while expanding prevention and early intervention efforts.
“One in five New Zealanders will be affected by gambling harm in their lifetime — either directly or through someone they know,” Doocey noted. This stark reality has galvanized a multi-faceted response, emphasizing not only the treatment of individual cases but also the protection of entire communities.
Consultation-driven policymaking and lived experience
The strategy’s development was grounded in a robust, two-stage public consultation process. Individuals with direct, lived experience of gambling harm played a crucial role in shaping the plan. As Doocey acknowledged, “You’ve helped ensure this strategy is reflective of real-life experiences and have helped to ground the strategy with a strong understanding of what support works best for you and our communities.”
Such engagement exemplifies a more empathetic, data-informed approach to regulation—prioritizing people’s needs over abstract policy frameworks.
NZ$81 million targeting prevention and clinical support
The renewed strategy channels its funding across three main fronts – enhancing support and treatment availability, boosting early intervention and prevention programs, and creating a more effective, coordinated sector response. A major innovation is the creation of 18 clinical internship positions, designed to bridge the skills gap by enabling supervised, real-world training for emerging professionals in the gambling harm space.
Notably, the program also opens pathways for recovering problem gamblers to become registered clinicians themselves, blending peer insight with professional expertise. This progressive move is expected to both expand the workforce and amplify the effectiveness of support services available to those at risk.
Direct industry contributions through the problem gambling levy
Core to the new approach is the Problem Gambling Levy Regulations. All major gambling operators—including non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, TAB NZ, and Lotto NZ—are now required to contribute to harm prevention funding through this levy framework.
The government is actively considering how to apply similar obligations to future licensed iGaming operators, ensuring that as the digital gambling landscape evolves, responsible funding for harm minimization evolves in step.
Aligning regulation with the Gambling Act 2003 and beyond
The update is fully aligned with New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003, which mandates that the Ministry of Health refresh the country’s gambling harm strategy every three years. By mandating industry contributions and focusing on public health outcomes, the latest reforms deliver on both the spirit and the letter of this legislation. Health New Zealand is charged with implementation, ensuring government ambitions translate to real-world impact.
Preparing for a regulated iGaming market in 2026
These proactive measures gain added significance in the context of New Zealand’s imminent iGaming market transformation. With legal online casinos expected to launch in 2026, the government is laying the groundwork for a robust regulatory framework that both fosters innovation and enforces accountability.
The market potential is substantial—industry observers estimate the licensed market could soon be worth NZ$500 million, with major international brands such as 888, Betway, and Bet365 already expressing interest in securing local licences. In parallel, the government is exploring how newly licensed online operators will contribute to funding ongoing harm prevention efforts, cementing the link between regulated growth and social responsibility.
Responding to the challenges of a changing market
The urgency of this updated strategy is underscored by recent trends in New Zealand’s gambling landscape. Grey market activity remains significant, with brands like Jackpotcitycasino and Casumo claiming notable market shares in the absence of a formal regulatory framework for iGaming. The launch of a legal market not only promises consumer protections and tax revenues, but also the ability to mandate direct support for harm reduction initiatives from a broader spectrum of operators.
Additionally, the inclusion of an independent review in 2025/26 ensures that the strategy remains data-driven and agile, able to adapt to shifting user behaviors, technological advancements, and patterns of harm as they arise.
A model for the global industry
New Zealand’s integrated, consultative, and future-forward approach offers valuable lessons for other jurisdictions grappling with the dual imperatives of market liberalization and player protection. The emphasis on lived experience, workforce development, and mandatory industry contributions provides a blueprint for how to balance growth with social responsibility.
As global trends continue to drive the convergence of entertainment, gambling, and technology, frameworks like New Zealand’s updated gambling harm prevention strategy will increasingly set the standard for sustainability and accountable market development. In this, New Zealand positions itself not just as a regulator, but as a proactive steward of its digital future.
