Most New Zealanders who gamble do so without harm. A substantial minority do not, and the harm they experience falls very unevenly.
This page sets out what the official sources actually record — and why one of the most commonly quoted numbers about New Zealand gambling does not exist.
How many New Zealanders are affected
Health New Zealand’s published figures: around 186,000 people are personally affected by gambling harm. Approximately 61,000 are gambling with moderate or more serious levels of harm — roughly the population of Rotorua. A further 125,000 are likely experiencing at least some level of harm, and are at risk of more severe harm in future — roughly the population of Dunedin.
Around one in five New Zealand adults — 22% — will be affected at some point in their lives, by their own gambling or someone else’s.
Different official sources count slightly differently. The 2025 New Zealand Gambling Survey put combined moderate-risk and problem gambling at 2.4% of adults aged 15 and over, which works out closer to 104,000 people — a different measure over a different period.
That runs against the framing of most commentary on this subject, which treats growth as the given. The measured direction is down. The majority of New Zealanders who gamble do so without harm, and a substantial minority experience serious harm. Both things are true at once.
The harm does not fall evenly
Māori, Pacific peoples and Asian peoples are each more than twice as likely to experience moderate to severe gambling harm than the European and other population. The Ministry of Health adds young people and people on low incomes to that list.
Our pokie machines guide covers the Class 4 sector, including the Department’s own assessment that pokies are the leading reason people seek gambling-related help in Aotearoa.
Using taonga and cultural imagery to make gambling products more appealing to the population that experiences the most gambling harm is not a marketing insight. It is the thing Māori public health organisations have spent decades objecting to.
Nobody knows how much New Zealanders gamble online
The Department of Internal Affairs has said as much — that there is evidence New Zealanders are gambling more online, and that research is still underway to establish how much money is involved.
Between them these describe the regulated market well.
From 2027, licensed operators will report to the Department of Internal Affairs and pay duty here. For the first time there will be a measured picture of online casino activity in New Zealand rather than inference — one of the less-discussed consequences of the reform, and arguably among the more useful.
What changes from 2027
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026, with regulations following on 3 July. Expressions of interest opened on 17 July at a fee of NZ$19,000, followed by a competitive auction and full applications, for up to fifteen licences — one brand each, and no operator may hold more than three.
From 1 December 2026, operators that have not entered the process must stop serving New Zealanders, with penalties up to NZ$5 million; those with pending applications may continue until a decision or 1 July 2027.
Alongside the measurement consequence, licensed operators will face requirements that do not exist offshore today: bonuses capped at the lesser of NZ$100 or 200% of the deposit, mandatory limit prompts at sign-up and monthly, self-exclusion effective within 24 hours, no autoplay, and no credit card funding.
Our New Zealand gambling laws guide sets out the timeline, and our market overview covers the sector in more detail.
What this means if you gamble
The figures above are population statistics, not predictions about any individual. Two practical points follow.
Harm is more common than most people assume. One in five New Zealand adults will be affected at some point, by their own gambling or someone else’s. If it has crossed your mind, you are not in unusual territory.
The services are free, confidential and government funded, and they support whānau and friends as well as the person gambling. You do not need things to have reached a crisis point to call.
The Gambling Helpline is on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006, 24 hours a day. PGF Services offers free counselling and financial mentoring on 0800 664 262.
Our self-exclusion guide covers bank gambling blocks, device blocking software and the Multi-Venue Exclusion scheme, and our responsible gaming page has more.
This page is published for information. It is not medical, financial, legal or gambling advice, and nothing on it is a recommendation to gamble. You must be 18 or older to gamble online in New Zealand.
The figures here are population statistics, not predictions about any individual. They describe how harm is distributed across groups; they say nothing about any particular person’s risk, and belonging to a group named here does not mean anyone is at risk, or that anyone outside those groups is not.
Different official sources count harm differently and cover different periods, so figures from separate publications should not be treated as directly comparable. All statistics are drawn from the sources listed below and reflect what those agencies published; confirm the current position on their own sites before citing anything here.
Spending at offshore online casinos is not measured by anyone in New Zealand, and this page deliberately gives no figure for it. Any market-size or growth statistic for that activity — wherever you meet it — is an estimate rather than a count.
Support is free, confidential and government funded, and it covers whānau and friends as well as the person gambling. You do not need things to have reached a crisis point to call. The Gambling Helpline is on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006, 24 hours a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New Zealanders are affected by gambling harm?
Around 186,000 people are personally affected. About 61,000 are gambling at moderate or more serious levels of harm, with a further 125,000 experiencing some level of harm.
Who is most affected?
Māori, Pacific and Asian peoples are each more than twice as likely to experience moderate to severe gambling harm than the European and other population. The Ministry of Health also names young people and people on low incomes.
Why does the disparity exist?
Departmental research records higher concentrations of class 4 gaming machines in lower socioeconomic areas. Māori public health leaders have said the industry has placed machines in the neighbourhoods where their whānau live.
Do the affected communities gamble more?
Not necessarily. Research finds Pacific and Asian communities have lower participation rates than the general population, but that those who do gamble face markedly higher risk of harm.
Is gambling participation increasing?
No. Adult participation was 64.1% in the 2025 survey, down from 69.3% in 2020 and 67.2% in 2018.
How much do New Zealanders spend on online gambling?
Nobody knows precisely. Offshore operators file no returns here, and the Department of Internal Affairs has said research is still underway to establish the figure.
Where does reliable New Zealand gambling data come from?
The New Zealand Gambling Survey, run by the Ministry of Health with Health New Zealand leading analysis, plus departmental figures for domestic products.
Will that change?
Yes. From 2027, licensed operators will report to the Department of Internal Affairs and pay duty here, producing measured data for the first time.
Where can I get help?
The Gambling Helpline is free and available 24 hours a day on 0800 654 655, or by free text to 8006. PGF Services offers free counselling on 0800 664 262. Both support whānau and friends.
