Is the Pokie Problem Gambling Crisis Solved in NZ?

Pokies have been part of New Zealand’s gambling landscape for decades. They can be found in pubs, clubs and other licensed venues throughout the country, and money generated through non-casino gaming machines also contributes to community organisations through grants.

But an important question remains: has New Zealand solved its pokie problem gambling issue?

The short answer is no, not completely.

New Zealand has introduced stronger harm-minimisation requirements, increased monitoring, funded gambling-harm services and continued to develop its regulatory approach. However, official research shows that gambling-related harm remains a significant public-health issue.

The Ministry of Health estimates that around 359,000 people aged 16 and over were at some degree of risk of gambling harm in 2024.

At the same time, electronic gaming machines, commonly known as pokies, remain one of the gambling activities most strongly associated with gambling harm.

So while New Zealand has made progress, it would be difficult to say that the pokie problem gambling crisis is solved.

What Makes Pokies a Particular Concern?

Pokies are electronic gaming machines that allow players to place repeated bets and receive immediate results. They are available in many community venues and can make gambling highly accessible.

According to the Department of Internal Affairs, about 13% of New Zealanders play electronic gaming machines in entertainment venues or casinos. The Department also notes that gaming-machine users are considered to have the highest risk of gambling-related problems among gambling activities.

More recent government research is even more striking.

The Department of Internal Affairs reports that 50.3% of people who played electronic gaming machines in pubs or clubs at least once a month experienced some level of gambling harm. The likelihood of harm increases among people who play pokies more frequently.

This does not mean that every person who plays a pokie has a gambling problem. Most people who gamble do not develop severe gambling disorders.

However, the figures demonstrate why pokies continue to receive significant attention from health authorities and regulators.

New Zealand Has Introduced Stronger Pokie Regulations

It would be unfair to suggest that nothing has changed.

New Zealand has progressively strengthened its approach to gambling harm. One major development was the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023, which came fully into force on 1 December 2023.

These rules strengthened harm-minimisation requirements for non-casino gaming-machine venues, often referred to as Class 4 venues.

The changes were designed to improve how gambling venues identify and respond to people experiencing gambling harm.

This includes stronger expectations around identifying people who may be experiencing significant harm and taking appropriate action.

The goal is not simply to tell people to gamble responsibly. Instead, venues have responsibilities to recognise signs of harm and intervene when necessary.

That represents an important shift in the way New Zealand approaches pokie gambling.

Are Harm-Minimisation Rules Working?

This is where the answer becomes more complicated.

New Zealand has introduced policies, regulations and funding designed to prevent and minimise gambling harm. But having regulations in place does not automatically mean gambling harm disappears.

The Ministry of Health’s current Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28 provides the government’s framework for preventing and reducing gambling harm over a three-year period beginning 1 July 2025.

The strategy includes investment in prevention, treatment, research and support services.

Importantly, the Ministry is also undertaking an impact evaluation to assess how effective the gambling-harm strategy has been since its introduction in 2004. The evaluation is scheduled to run through 2026 and is intended to identify successes, gaps, opportunities and potential next steps.

That tells us something important. If the government already considered the problem solved, there would be little reason to undertake a major evaluation of whether existing approaches are actually working.

The Financial Impact of Pokies

Another reason the issue remains important is the amount of gambling expenditure associated with gaming machines.

The Ministry of Health’s current strategy notes that a relatively small proportion of people who play gaming machines account for a disproportionately large share of gambling expenditure. Specifically, it states that 37% of gambling expenditure comes from the 14% of people who play gaming machines.

This distinction matters. Looking only at the total number of people who play pokies could make the activity appear relatively harmless because many players may gamble occasionally and experience little or no harm.

However, gambling harm is not distributed evenly. A smaller group of people can experience much greater financial, emotional and social consequences.

These consequences can include:

• Financial difficulties
• Debt
• Relationship problems
• Stress and anxiety
• Reduced household spending
• Problems at work
• Social isolation
• Mental-health difficulties

Gambling harm can also affect people who do not gamble themselves. Family members, partners and other people close to someone experiencing gambling harm can also be affected.

Has the Number of Pokies Been Reduced?

New Zealand has controls on the number and location of gaming machines, but reducing machine numbers alone does not necessarily solve gambling harm.

The Department of Internal Affairs has been monitoring gaming-machine numbers, venues and expenditure for many years. The gambling environment is also changing. Online gambling is becoming increasingly important, creating new challenges for regulators and policymakers. This means the question is no longer simply about how many machines are installed in New Zealand.

Authorities also have to consider:

• How frequently people gamble
• How much money they spend
• How gambling products are designed
• How venues identify risky behaviour
• How quickly people can access help
• How gambling is advertised
• How technology changes gambling behaviour
• Whether existing regulations actually reduce harm

In other words, the gambling problem cannot be measured by machine numbers alone.

What About Gambling Addiction?

The term “pokie addiction” is often used in everyday conversation, but gambling harm exists on a spectrum. Someone does not necessarily need to meet the criteria for a gambling disorder before gambling becomes harmful.

A person might start experiencing problems because they are spending more money than planned, chasing losses, hiding gambling from family members or using money intended for household expenses. Common warning signs can include:

• Chasing losses: A player loses money and continues gambling because they believe another win will recover the loss.
• Increasing spending: The person gradually spends more money or gambles for longer periods than originally intended.
• Hiding gambling: They may conceal gambling activity or financial losses from family members or friends.
• Financial consequences: Bills, rent, food or other important expenses may be affected by gambling expenditure.
• Emotional changes: The person may become stressed, anxious, irritable or withdrawn because of gambling.

Recognising these warning signs early is important because gambling harm can become significantly more difficult to manage when it continues over time.

Are New Zealand’s Pokie Venues Doing Enough?

This is one of the most debated questions. The regulatory system places responsibilities on gambling operators and venues to minimise harm. The strengthened 2023 regulations were specifically designed to improve harm-minimisation practices in Class 4 venues.

However, effective harm minimisation depends on more than having rules written into legislation. It also depends on how consistently those rules are implemented. Staff need appropriate training. Signs of harmful gambling need to be recognised. Conversations with customers need to be handled appropriately, and interventions need to happen when necessary.

There also needs to be effective oversight. This is why continued monitoring and evaluation are so important.

Government Funding for Gambling-Harm Services

Another indication that New Zealand continues to treat gambling harm as a serious issue is its ongoing investment in prevention and treatment. Problem-gambling services are funded through a levy imposed on gambling operators. The levy is established on a three-year cycle and contributes to funding services designed to prevent and minimise gambling harm.

The current national strategy covers the period from 2025/26 to 2027/28 and sets out government priorities for gambling-harm prevention and support. These services are important because regulation alone cannot solve every gambling problem. People experiencing gambling harm may need counselling, financial support, behavioural interventions or assistance rebuilding relationships.

Why Saying the Problem Is “Solved” Would Be Misleading

There is a temptation to measure success by looking at whether regulations have become stricter. But gambling harm is ultimately about people.

If someone loses money they cannot afford to lose, experiences family problems and continues gambling despite negative consequences, the fact that a venue complies with regulations does not mean that person’s problem has disappeared. Likewise, a reduction in the number of machines would not automatically eliminate gambling harm.

The real measure of success should include whether fewer people are experiencing serious harm and whether people who do develop problems can receive effective help quickly.

Current government data indicate that a substantial number of New Zealanders remain at risk. The Ministry’s 2024 estimate of approximately 359,000 people aged 16 or older at some level of gambling-harm risk makes it difficult to argue that the country’s gambling problem has disappeared.

What Could Help Reduce Pokie Harm Further?

There is no single solution. A stronger approach is likely to involve several measures working together.

• Better early intervention: The earlier harmful gambling behaviour is identified, the easier it may be to prevent serious consequences.
• Stronger venue accountability: Venues need to take harm-minimisation responsibilities seriously rather than treating them as paperwork or compliance exercises.
• Better public awareness: People need to understand that gambling harm can develop gradually and that occasional gambling can become problematic when spending or frequency increases.
• Easier access to support: People should be able to seek help without embarrassment or unnecessary barriers.
• Continued research: Policies should be evaluated based on evidence rather than assumptions.

The Ministry of Health has specifically identified monitoring, research and evaluation as important parts of its current gambling-harm programme.

So, Is the Pokie Problem Gambling Crisis Solved in NZ?

No, the evidence does not support saying that the problem is solved.

New Zealand has made meaningful progress in regulating pokies and strengthening harm-minimisation requirements. The 2023 regulatory changes introduced stronger obligations for Class 4 venues, while the current national strategy continues to invest in prevention, treatment and research. But significant challenges remain.

Pokies continue to be associated with a high risk of gambling harm, and official research indicates that a large proportion of regular pub and club EGM players experience some level of harm. The most accurate conclusion, therefore, is that New Zealand has not solved its pokie problem gambling issue—but it is continuing to strengthen the systems designed to reduce it.

The success of those efforts should ultimately be judged not by how many regulations exist, but by whether they lead to fewer people experiencing serious financial, emotional and social harm from gambling.

For anyone concerned about their own gambling or someone else’s, recognising the problem early is an important first step. Gambling should never be treated as a guaranteed way to make money, and seeking support is not a sign of failure. It is a practical step toward regaining control.