Objectives: This project was commissioned by the Problem Gambling Committee (PGC); subsequently the Ministry of Health assumed responsibility from the PGC. The primary objectives of the project were to:

1. Review the assessment and screening instruments currently used in New Zealand and internationally for the assessment of problem gamblers at the clinical level including by the telephone helpline
2. Following the review, to recommend a full set of screening and assessment instruments to be used in the clinical treatment of problem gamblers; selected instruments should be able to be used to monitor client progress in follow-up assessments currently undertaken at various set intervals
3. To pilot the recommended screening and assessment instruments in order to test the application of these screens in the New Zealand setting The research was divided into two phases.

There was a particular focus on the screening instruments currently mandated for use by Ministry of Health funded problem gambling service providers, namely the South Oaks Gambling Screen - Three Month time frame (SOGS-3M), DSM-IV gambling criteria, Dollars Lost assessment and Control over Gambling assessment. Other screening tools used by the service providers were also considered. Additionally, the family/whanau checklist for use with ‘significant others’ was reviewed.