We wholeheartedly believe that problem gambling created and catalysed by things like electronic gaming machines (pokies) are hugely detrimental and destructive to whanau and communities around New Zealand.
We believe it is abhorrent that up to 85 per cent of problem gamblers in New Zealand use pokies as their main form of gambling. We are also acutely aware that Maori and Pacific adults are 3.5 times more likely than other adults to become problem gamblers. These figures are alarming for The Salvation Army as we are located in communities with high Maori and Pasifika communities around the country and work with these people and whanau everyday of our work through our churches, employment programmes, food banks, family stores, social workers and budgeters.