Research on gambling and gambling harm in Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review

Abstract

Gambling harm is a significant public health issue made more urgent by the rapid growth of online gambling. In Aotearoa New Zealand, gambling access expanded following the introduction of gaming machines in the 1990s and is expected to expand again with the regulation of online casinos. With online casinos now being regulated, it is timely to examine the local evidence and identify gaps in the research. This study aimed to determine: (i) the focus of peer-reviewed gambling research conducted in New Zealand between 2003 and 2024; (ii) the methodologies used and their adequacy; and (iii) the nature and extent of funding reported in peer-reviewed publications. MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2003 and 2024. Articles of any design were eligible if they focused on gambling, gambling harm or problem gambling, were conducted in New Zealand and included at least one New Zealand-based author. A total of 176 articles were included. Research addressed overlapping domains of individual factors (23.3%), epidemiology and harm (18.2%), social and cultural factors (18.8%), community and context (15.3%), screening and treatment (23.3%), and policy and industry regulation (14.8%). Cross-sectional studies were the most common design (37.5%), followed by non-systematic reviews (20.5%) and qualitative studies (13.1%). Only five clinical trials and seven experimental or quasi-experimental studies were identified. Qualitative methods were most common in research addressing social and cultural factors. Among 167 articles reporting funding information, 37% received gambling levy funding, 27% general research funding, 30% reported no funding and 6% received overseas funding; none reported direct gambling-industry funding. New Zealand has produced a substantial body of peer-reviewed gambling research, but relatively little research has tested what works to reduce gambling harm. Major gaps were evaluations of public health and regulatory responses, treatment and prevention outcomes, the effects of gambling on affected others and whānau, online gambling, and culturally grounded responses for Māori, Pacific and Asian communities. The introduction of regulated online casinos increases the need for prospective research that can track changes to gambling and gambling harm and inform policy and regulation.