Community grills political panel over surge in youth online gambling

Community members worried about the rapid rise of youth online gambling have grilled a political panel on how it plans to tackle the problem, after referrals for help tripled in three years.

Some young people have lost significant amounts of money.

As people arrived at the meeting, they shared their concerns. One attendee condemned online gambling platforms, saying: "To be targeting our young people is quite cruel."

Another said: "It should be controlled, it should be taken seriously."

The crowd peppered the three with questions. One audience member asked: "If we wouldn't let a child sit at a pokie machine, why are we ok with gambling mechanics being part of the games they're growing up playing?"

All three candidates spoke strongly about protecting rangatahi.

Fleming said new law changes, which cap the number of offshore online casino licences in New Zealand at 15, would include restrictions on advertising to people under 25.

Menéndez March told the crowded room: "We are committed to ensuring we introduce prohibitions in advertisement."

Problem Gambling Foundation figures show 44% of people aged 15 to 24 have tried online gambling, and 26,000 of them have been harmed by it.

In response, the foundation has launched Touchgrass, the first national organisation offering specialist services for youth online gambling addiction.

Touchgrass clinical lead Frances Russell said: "Some of the worst cases is just young people losing very significant amounts of money, and seeing the pervasive impacts that has on their wellbeing is very heartbreaking."

Laga Jensen is one of four young people who helped design Touchgrass so it would work for youth. He first gambled while studying at Otago University.

"The first time I saw gambling and actually did gambling was in the library on a study break with my mates," he said.

"You don't really think it's a problem because it's so normalised, and nobody steps in and says stop."

Asian Family Services counsellor Romy Lee also called for change. "In terms of our Asian community, we know our Asian whānau in general are nine and a half times more likely to be harmed by gambling harm."

As people left the meeting, one attendee said they wanted to see more action, adding: "At this point it's more so just words."

Jensen said: "I don't think society properly has a grasp at the moment of how big of a problem it is."