When it comes to promoting gambling services in New Zealand, gambling marketing through sports betting and sports sponsorship agreements has become widely accepted.
A number of major sporting codes, including Softball New Zealand, netball, basketball, tennis and rugby, have been heavily funded by TAB, one of the largest gambling and betting brands in Australia and New Zealand. The practice, however, has been considered controversial, especially at a time when gambling engagement rates mark considerable growth in the country.
Hāpai Te Hauora, the Māori public health organisation, has acknowledged the important part which sport has for improving general well-being and health in communities in the country. However, the organisation disagrees with the popularisation of gambling brands among New Zealanders, as being a sponsor of a large sporting code is no excuse for a gambling company for not taking social responsibility for their actions, especially to the young people.
Back in 2017, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health reported that gambling causes massive harm to society, with its impact on local people being three times larger than the amount of harm inflicted by drug use disorders.
Authorities Need to Raise Communities’ Awareness of Gambling-Related Harm
According to Hāpai Te Hauora, gambling could not be described simply as a harmless pastime, especially considering some recent findings that Māori people are eight times more likely to be affected by gambling-related harm in comparison to the likelihood for the general population.
The organisation criticised sporting codes’ attitude, saying that the continuous ignoring and denial of the massive harm distribution to Māori communities pretty much equals to them saying that the negative consequences brought to society is a sacrifice that could be made as long as gambling profits remain protected.
Sports clubs have always had a significant impact on children and young people. According to New Zealand anti-gambling campaigners, if such clubs are associated with gambling, they might inflict more harm to society, and especially to children and young people. Gambling opponents have also shared that the extent to which local children are exposed to harmful gambling advertising, including gambling, is still on the rise, despite the fact that it remains largely unknown.
As previously reported by Casino Guardian, Hāpai Te Hauora has already shared its concern about gambling marketing. The fact that the actual extent of gambling-related harm inflicted on society, and more specifically, on children, does not make things better.
Last year, the Māori public health adviser shared that New Zealand residents generally lack awareness of the harm that could be inflicted on their lives as a result of gambling. According to the organisation, the bureaucracy has been one of the main reasons why there has been lack of in-depth information on the matter.
Hāpai Te Hauora has said that more clarity was needed on the possible negative impact of gambling on people’s lives, especially considering the fact that more people are getting engaged with gambling over the last few years. Of course, Hāpai Te Hauora has not been the only organisation which has been urging the competent authorities to do something about spreading gambling addiction in the country. The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand has also shared its concern about the dangers related to certain forms of gambling and their impact on local communities.
- Author
Daniel Williams
