Auckland man concerned a proposed bill could see a spike in gambling addiction.
Photo: 123rf
Warning: This story discusses suicide.
“All it takes is one taste and once you’ve tasted it, it will spiral out of control.”
That from an Auckland man who’s worried if the Online Casino Gambling Bill goes ahead more people could become addicted to gambling.
The bill, expected to pass in February next year, will grant licences to up to 15 online casino gambling operators.
The minister in charge says it will prioritise harm minimisation while collecting tax revenue, with four percent ringfenced for community returns.
But experts say the bill is missing details, as it still allows licensed online casinos to advertise but with restrictions.
When *Tom opens his phone and scrolls through his social media feed, it’s almost inevitable he’ll see an ad for an online gambling platform.
The ads, offering free spins, bonus cash and 100 dollars of “free” pre-loaded credit, still trigger the recovering online gambling addict.
“It’s all over Youtube, it’s all over Facebook, it’s all over TikTok, most TikToks that you see nowadays will have a watermark for an online gambling platform, just subtly put in there.”
“I’ve got a young son, I’m now at the point where I’m worried about what he’s watching.”
Tom was 12 when he was first exposed to online gambling through a gaming site.
The cycle of risk and reward throughout his teenage years sparked his interest in pokies, and by the time he turned 20, he became a regular at SkyCity’s Auckland casino.
For a time, luck was on his side, winning numerous jackpots…that’s when he dived head first into online gambling.
“It was something that I constantly convinced myself would make my life better. I would more or less tell myself that eventually one of these days it’s going to pay off.”
But, as the saying goes, the house always wins.
Now 34 years old, Tom estimates that his addiction to gambling has cost him over half a million dollars.
“It’s impacted my relationship with my partner, my relationship with my son, I rarely speak to any of my distant family, parents or brothers and sisters.”
“I have no money, pretty much all the time so I’m running on fumes.”
Tom said because he’s so ashamed, he’s even contemplated ending his life.
“It’s not really thinking about it like that’s the solution to the problem, it’s more thinking about it like I’m so ashamed and I never want to have to admit this.”
He said he feels there’s no choices to stop.
“People have the freedom to jump on an online casino and gamble. But if you recognise that you’ve got an issue, there’s no button, there’s no way that you can just go ‘I don’t want to do that anymore, or I don’t want to have access to that anymore.”
The Online Casino Gambling Bill, introduced by the Act Party’s Brooke van Velden, auctions 15 licences for online casinos. Companies must have a harm prevention strategy, ensure users are at least 18 years old and stick to advertising restrictions.
The Problem Gambling Foundation’s Andree Froude said they agree with the bill’s regulation of some offshore sites as people will be better protected.
But she said the bill falls short of detail.
“Particularly with the licensing of these casinos we need to ensure that they have really robust age verification processes to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“It seems with a lot of these offshore casinos that it’s really easy to actually get around that or sometimes there’s no age verification at all.”
The Problem Gambling Foundation wants online gambling advertising banned altogether.
“We’re seeing the offshore online casinos who are advertising on social media platforms, then we’ve got the other side of things where they’re approaching influencers to promote their sites as well.”
Director of Auckland University of Technology’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre Maria Bellringer said the bill doesn’t stop casinos offering incentives like ‘free bets’ and ‘moneyback guarantees.’
She also said the rules round advertising don’t go far enough.
“Children are still going to see the advertisements, we know that they will because children watch television late at night.”
“This is going to normalise the online casino gambling behaviour to children and adolescents and it will influence their future gambling involvement.”
The Ministry of Health said one in five New Zealand adults are affected by their own or others gambling. Māori, Pacific, Asian and young people are at greater risk of experiencing gambling harm.
The most recent New Zealand Gaming Survey found people aged between 15 to 24 – typically male – were most likely to gamble on online casinos.
A spokesperson for the Department of Internal Affairs told Checkpoint work on the details of regulations to restrict or prohibit inducements in online casino gambling are underway.
The DIA is currently considering what ways it will restrict advertising.
They say before being licensed in New Zealand, operators of an online casino will need to show they are able to verify the age and identity of customers.
If an operator breaches requirements, they could face penalties of up to $5 million and potential licence suspension or cancellation.
*Name has been changed to protect the person’s identity
Where to get help:
- Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
- Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
- What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
- Healthline: 0800 611 116.
- Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
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