Background

The New Zealand National Gambling Study (NGS) is a nationally representative longitudinal survey of adults aged 18 years and older. The purpose of the NGS is to provide information on the prevalence, incidence, nature and effects of gambling in New Zealand. Participants in the NGS were recruited in 2012 (Wave 1), and then re-interviewed annually in 2013 to 2015 (Waves 2 to 4). It is important to note that in 2013 (Wave 2), due to budgetary constraints, attempts were only made to re-contact 5,266 (84%) of the original 6,251 participants meaning that 985 participants (16%) were lost to the study because no re-contact attempt was made. In 2012, there were 1481 moderate-risk and problem gamblers amongst the 6,251 participants. Subsequently, the number was 75, 55 and 57 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

As the number of moderate-risk and problem gamblers in the NGS is relatively small (about two percent of participants), this limits the extent of statistical analyses that can be performed, especially when sub-group analyses are required. Therefore, an additional cohort of 1062 adult (aged 18 years and older) moderate-risk and problem gamblers was recruited from gambling venues and via advertisements in 2014/15, and re-assessed in 2015/16.

The cohort was a self-selected convenience sample recruited in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and Wellington from August 2014 to July 2015. From September 2015 to July 2016, 70 participants were re-contacted and re-interviewed (66% response rate). Participants were sought via advertisements placed in the jobs section of a national auction and classifieds website, advertisements on a national employment website (in the volunteer section) and via gambling venues (casino and Class 43 venues). The four cities were selected as they are the major cities in New Zealand with a range of available gambling opportunities.

The questionnaires used for the additional cohort were the same as those used in Wave 1 (2012) and Wave 2 (2013) of the NGS, so that additional cohort data could be used to supplement NGS data. The questionnaire incorporated a range of measures on gambling participation, gambling strategies and cognitions, gambling attitudes, problem gambling, health and well-being, psychological status, substance use/misuse, life events, social capital/support and demographic information.

Findings from the NGS study to date have been published in a series of six reports. The Wave 1 results are presented in three reports covering an overview of gambling and gambling participation findings (Abbott, Bellringer, Garrett, & Mundy-McPherson, 2014a), gambling harm and problem gambling (Abbott et al., 2014b), and attitudes towards gambling (Abbott et al., 2015a). The Wave 2, Wave 3 and Wave 4 results are detailed in three further reports (Abbott et al., 2015b; Abbott et al., 2016, Abbott et al., 2018).

This report is the seventh in the series. As the results from the additional cohort are compared with data from NGS Wave 1 and Wave 2 data, this report should be read in conjunction with those reports, in particular, report number 1 (Abbott et al, 2014a), report number 2 (Abbott et al., 2014b) and report number 4 (Abbott et al., 2015b).