Gambling harm
New Zealand’s Asian communities face disproportionate risks of problem gambling and gambling harm. Compared with the European/other population, the chance of developing moderate-risk/problem gambling is 9.5 times greater; the likelihood of experiencing moderate/severe gambling harm is twice as high.
Economic migrants and international students with funds and savings are at particular risk, and Asian gamblers report the highest losses by ethnicity. Research has shown harmful gambling to be connected with the incidence of family/intimate partner violence and serious mental health issues.

Barriers to seeking help
There is substantive underuse of services by Asian groups.
• Language and cultural barriers.
• Physical and financial barriers.
• Stigma of having gambling problems.
• Lack of accessible and culturally responsive online tools, including self-help tools.
• Lack of information about where to access support.

Contributing factors to Asian gambling
• The acculturation process.
• New-found freedoms.
• Lack of experience in New Zealand commercial gambling environments.
• Significant spare cash and free time.
• Limited English ability.
• Difficulty gaining employment and disconnection from family.
• Trying to win money and/or escape pressures.
• Thinking gambling is a means to make easy money

Ethnic differences
• Newer migrants see gambling as part of ‘kiwi culture’ due to its easy accessibility, prevalence, and legality.
• Lack of understanding of the risks.
• Casinos are seen as a ‘safe place’ to Asian economic migrants and international students.
• Casino environment fulfilling the need to ‘feel important’ and ‘valued’
• Casinos are open 24 hours and have employees who speak Asian languages.
• Limited or no social connection
• Traumatic experiences
• Variations in reasons for migration and settlement expectations in New Zealand impact gambling behaviours.
• Gambling participation, gambling related harm and problem gambling prevalence: least amongst refugees, less amongst Southeast Asians and South Asians, and more amongst Chinese, Koreans and international students who have more resources.
• Willingness to talk about problem gambling – South Asians are more willing and Chinese less willing.
• Varied preference for ethnically matched service providers or generic services within and between groups.
• Duration of residence in New Zealand - new immigrants are at greater risk and older immigrants who are more integrated have less risk.

Asian Family Services (AFS) provides professional, confidential, nationwide face-to-face or telephone support to Asians living in New Zealand. These services are offered in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Hindi. An interpreter can be arranged for other languages.
0800 862 342 www.asianfamilyservices.nz

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