Guest Editorial: International Gambling Conference

Abstract

This special edition of the journal consists of papers based on selected presentations given at the May 2004 International Gambling Conference, “Gambling and Problem Gambling in New Zealand: Taking Stock and Moving Forward on Policy, Practice and Research.” Prior to final acceptance, papers were subject to peer review and revision. The conference was held in conjunction with the International Think Tank on Presenting Populations and First Contact Services. Both events were organized and hosted by the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Gambling Research Centre and New Zealand Gambling Problem Helpline. A selection of the papers from the Think Tank will shortly constitute a special edition of International Gambling Studies. They will also appear in book form. 2004 was a critical year for gambling and problem gambling in New Zealand. New gambling legislation came into full effect. This legislation is of interest internationally because it is the first instance of a comprehensive national public health approach to gambling and problem gambling. Consistent with this approach, while responsibility for regulation remains principally with the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health assumes responsibility for the organization and funding of problem gambling services and research. The legislation and associated policy has a strong emphasis on health promotion, prevention and early intervention. As indicated in the Conference title, a major objective was to critically reflect on problem gambling policy, services and research developments during the past decade. As mentioned in my editorial in the preceding edition of this journal, New Zealand is also of interest in that it was the first country to undertake a national prevalence survey of problem gambling using a validated tool (in 1991) and develop nationwide problem gambling services (from 1993). Gambling industry and service provider organizations cooperated, principally through the Committee on Problem Gambling Management and its successor organization, the Problem Gambling Committee (PGC). This process was not without tension and rancour, but it fostered communication and a degree of mutual understanding that had hitherto been absent. In the year prior to the Conference, just under 5,000 new callers contacted the PGC funded Gambling Problem Helpline and approximately 4,000 received specialist counselling or therapy from PGC supported agencies. During the preceding six years over 32,000 New Zealanders accessed problem gambling assessment and/or treatment services. Given that the country’s population is just over four million and the adult problem gambling prevalence estimate is one to two percent, this is an exceptionally high level of outreach to people experiencing gambling problems (PatonSimpson, Gruys, & Hannifin, 2004). While funding was modest relative to more recent initiatives in some other parts of the world including Canada, the United States and Australia, important research was also supported and completed during this period. This included annual collection and analysis of Helpline and nation-wide counselling statistics, repeat five-yearly national general population surveys of gambling participation (since 1985), a replication (in 1999) of the original (1991) national prevalence survey, the first longitudinal survey of gamblers and problem gamblers living in the community and a series of prison studies (Abbott, 2001). Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Prof. Max W. Abbott, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Tel: (09) 917 9894. Fax: (09) 917 9706. E-mail: max.abbott@aut.ac.nz.