Summary of project/aims Background The last national studies focused on gambling in New Zealand were conducted in 1991 and 1999. Since then, there has been substantial growth in gambling availability and expenditure and it is timely to collect national-level information on gambling participation and problem gambling to inform policy and strategic planning.

Aim A major purpose of the 2012 National Gambling Study was to assess changes since the previous national gambling and problem gambling surveys were conducted. Five reports were produced from the study.

This report focuses on provide national-level epidemiological information on problem gambling in New Zealand. This includes information on risk and protective factors, and information on groups such as Māori and Pacific peoples who historically have had high rates of problem gambling.

Method A randomly selected national sample of 6,251 people aged 18 years and older living in private households was interviewed face-to-face from March to October 2012. The survey questionnaire included questions on: leisure activities and gambling participation, past gambling and recent gambling behaviour change, problem gambling, life events, attitudes towards gambling, mental health, substance use/misuse, health conditions, social connectedness, level of deprivation, gambling expenditure, and demographics.