On 10 August 2012, the Ministry of Health released its Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm: Consultation Document. The document comprised a gambling harm needs assessment, the Ministry’s draft service plan for 2013/14 to 2015/16, and draft problem gambling levy rates for the three-year period. During the consultation period, general consultation meetings were held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin; Māori, Pacific, and Asian viewpoints meetings were held in Auckland; and two meetings were held in Wellington for the gambling industry.
At the close of the consultation period, on 7 September 2012, the Ministry had received a total of 37 written submissions representing a range of groups and individuals. An external contractor, Allen and Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists Limited, analysed the submissions and produced a report (available for download in the box above). This report and the submissions informed the Ministry’s final proposals.
Key Results
The Ministry of Health appreciates the contribution made by those who participated in the consultation process.
The Ministry re-considered its draft service plan and levy rates in the light of feedback in the consultation meetings and submissions. It also took into account updated gambling expenditure and help-seeking figures received after the consultation document was written.
The proposed service plan and the amount of money required to implement it did not change as a result of either the consultation or the updated figures. However, the levy to be paid by gambling operators increased a little, as a result of a reduction in the forecast over-collection for the current levy period. The proposed levy rate for each gambling operator also changed, as a result of both the updated gambling expenditure figures and the updated help-seeking figures.The Ministry’s proposed service plan and levy rates document is available for download in the box above.
The Ministry has also produced a supporting document, Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm 2013/14 to 2015/16: Ministry of Health’s Response to Issues Raised in the Submissions (available for download in the box above), which sets out in a table the key issues raised in the submissions and the Ministry’s response to each issue.
Once again, thank you to those who made submissions. We appreciate your participation in this process. Next stepsIn October 2012, the Ministry sent the proposed service plan and levy rates to the Gambling Commission for consideration.
In November 2012, the Gambling Commission convened a consultation meeting, and subsequently submitted its recommendations to Ministers of Health and Internal Affairs.
Cabinet approved the new three-year service plan in April 2013, and in May 2013 regulations were made setting the new levy rates. The new service plan and levy rates are set out in the document in the Related Publications panel on this page. The new service plan and levy rates come into effect on 1 July 2013.