NZ Harm Prevention Agency: Gambling Has Been Normalized Among Children

Officials from the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand have stated that buying gambling products has been normalized among those aged under 18 and this is a big issue.

The Agency Warns Against the Sale of Gambling Products to Children

According to New Zealand’s Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF), persons under 18 years old should not be allowed to buy any gambling products, even if it’s for their parents. A new legislation should be introduced to the country’s parliament later this year that will ban the sale of all Lotto products to children. If the legislation passes, this will include both the online and in-store sale of any such tickets. Right now, Instant Kiwi tickets are the only age-restricted Lotto products in the country.

The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand is a national non-profit organization concerned with treating problem gambling. With over 60 locations throughout the country, it is the largest treatment provider for problem gambling in Australasia.

According to Lotto’s spokesperson Will Hine, the company has no firm data about the number of under-18s purchasing products, but believes the number is quite low. Furthermore, Lotto is welcoming the upcoming regulation proposals.

Problem Gambling Foundation Officials Explain the Issue

Andree Froude, advocacy and public health director for New Zealand’s PGF, said it was “gobsmacking” that Lotto tickets were being sold to children. According to her, even the act of a child buying a ticket for their parents to use still normalizes the behavior. She explained that it makes it seem like there’s no risk associated with the act and that it’s just a normal everyday thing to do. Froude explained that it’s paramount to send a signal that these are gambling products and that children should not be able to purchase them.

Research conducted on New Zealand adults showed that gambling before the age of 13 could mean a person might be more susceptible to harmful gambling practices later in life. According to Froude, children and adolescents are much more gambling advertising now than in previous years.

They’re on social media, they’re very tech savvy, they’re gaming and things like loot boxes that have gambling elements, they’re very similar to gambling and they have to with a loot box spend real money for the chance of winning something they might want to use within the game. All of these things are exposing them to gambling.

Problem Gambling Foundation advocacy and public health director Andree Froude

Froude explained that children should be made aware that there is a risk associated with gambling. According to her, the risk is great because gambling content is everywhere in the online environment, which is easy to access and available 24/7, which has normalized gambling among young people.