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$55 million to curb gambling harm

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$55 million to curb gambling harm

3News NZ

Final decisions will be made in April or May next year

Final decisions will be made in April or May next year

The Government is considering spending $55 million on curbing the harm caused by gambling.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says the proposed spending will go on:

  • Intervention services to help people experiencing problems as a result of their own or someone else's gambling
  • Public health services to prevent and minimise gambling harm
  • Gambling research and evaluation.

Mr Dunne has released a consultation paper and wants public feedback on the proposals.

Final decisions will be made in April or May next year and the money will be used over three years from July 2013 to June 2016.

The main gambling operators - casinos, pokie machine operators, the Lotteries Commission and the Racing Board - will reimburse the Government for the cost of the services.

NZN

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Comments

11/08/2012 2:48:54 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says the proposed spending will go on:
Intervention services to help people experiencing problems as a result of their own or someone else's gambling
Public health services to prevent and minimise gambling harm
Gambling research and evaluation."

With online gambling including the TAB we can gamble now 24 hours per day - 7 days a week.

I believe that this is the main reason that some people are having problems from continually losing money from gambling.

In reality these people are dreamers, unfortunately very poor ones particularly when it affects their family.

Thankfully the cost of operating this new Government department / Agency will be reimbursed by main gambling operators so the poor old hard working taxpayer does not have to pick up the tab.

It is worth a go under a Industry levied operation. I like it.

11/08/2012 12:41:41 p.m.

bukster wrote:

I went for a job at a casino once. The subject of social responsibility was raised. I blew the interview by saying that we should be responsible and keep an eye out for problem gamblers. That got me a speech about how if people walk in here with money, they have every right to spend it and we have no right to stop them. I'm glad I didn't get the job. The interviewers were snakes and I didn't like the look of them.

10/08/2012 3:23:12 p.m.

Wiseacre wrote:

Is that supposed to make it okay for Key to pimp out our laws to corporate parasites that prey on the weaknesses of others then?

10/08/2012 11:10:09 a.m.

Richard wrote:

$55 mill, some gamble by the government. It will change nothing. Wasted money.