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The levy aims to recover the costs of implementing the Ministry of Health’s problem gambling strategy. Key highlights from the report include:

• Total Levy Amount: The Commission recommends setting the total levy at $76.123 million, maintaining the same amount as the current levy period, rather than the Ministry’s proposed increase to $91.805 million.
• Weighting: The recommended weighting between player expenditure and presentations to problem gambling services has shifted from 30:70 to 35:65. This change reflects the growing significance of online gambling and the decline in presentations to problem gambling services.
• Ministry Strategy Review: The Commission expressed disappointment that the Ministry had not undertaken a strategic review of its problem gambling strategy, as recommended in 2022, and urges the Ministry to conduct a comprehensive review in the next levy period.
• Cost Management: Concerns were raised about the Ministry’s proposed 20.6% funding increase, including a 100% increase in agency costs. The Commission does not support the increase in the absence of clear evidence of the impact of existing strategies.
• Online Gambling: With online gambling becoming more prominent, the report recommends placing more emphasis on expenditure as online providers are not yet included in the levy, but they contribute to the problem gambling services' costs.

This report underscores the need for a refreshed approach to managing gambling harm in New Zealand, with an emphasis on more comprehensive research and evaluation to ensure the levy’s effectiveness.

Read the report here: Problem-Gambling-Levy-Report-2025