New Zealand sees rise in people seeking counselling for problem gambling

Radio New Zealand reports that the government's Ministry of Health has posted a 25% rise in the number of problem gamblers using its counselling services over the period 2008 - 2009. The ministry reports that the majority of gambling problems are related to land gaming machines in pubs and clubs, of which there are 19,000 in the country.

Seventy percent of the 6,673 citizens who sought help were new players, the Ministry reported, noting that those seeking assistance were thought to be just a small proportion of those with gambling problems of varying degrees of severity.

Source: InfoPowa News