1. PG Services
Asian PG Forum 2012
Sean Sullivan PhD
ABACUS Counselling Training & Supervision Ltd

2. Help for Problem Gambling
• NZ has had a changeable attitude to gambling – with
little concerns about PG
• Gamblers Anonymous
• New wave of gambling availability from 1987
• Casinos – problem gambling a factor at Casino Control
Authority hearing
• The first steps towards harm minimisation – the funding
of a PG service
• NZ PG service established prior to many others
– US & Canada
– Australia & UK

3. A NZ Harm Minimisation approach
• The Compulsive Gambling Society of NZ
– Fraser McDonald
– Max Abbott
– Ralph Gerdelan
– Sean Sullivan
• Funding – Hon Graeme Lee (Jim Anderton)
• The Gambling Industry – PG Purchasing Agency (John
Hannifin & Margaret Gruys)

4. The CGS
• Mental Health Foundation (Prof Max Abbott then Dr
Barbara Disley)
• Off to Mt Eden (upstairs at Odyssey; John Challis)
1993-1996
• Queen St up from the Town Hall 1996 (ACC)
• Manukau Rd 1996-1999 (PG Helpline goes; Oasis starts
New Nth Rd)
• Alpers Ave 1999-2000
• Grafton Rd 2000- (CGS changes to PGF)

5. Screening for Problem
gambling

6. Categorisation of PG a problem
• No ‘gold standard’ for problem gambling
• Only recently (1980; pathological) recognised as a
mental health disorder although psychiatrists have
addressed this – as an impulse disorder. What about
ASPD who do not want to resist gambling?
• Addiction – but when? What about moderate gambling
problems, are they addictions?
• A syndrome of symptoms? Most PG coexists with other
disorders which usually pre-exist – can PG exist on its
own?

7. What is ‘gambling’?
• Buying and selling shares?
• Forward exchange dealing by our current Prime
Minister?
• Property speculation?
• Life Insurance?
All the above can cause harm if done to excess/world
recession suddenly occurs
• What level of skill before risk is not best described as
gambling?

8. But what gambling is being missed?
• Gambling for tokens – Facebook (Zynga
Poker) – nursery for excessive gambling?
Buying tokens similar to casino gambling
– Perception of ‘gaming’, not gambling,
and not using real money
• Share trading and futures (very high risk,
especially levered trading) – the current
financial crisis
• Property trading (slower but high risks?)
– Perception of high skills, low
‘uncertainty’, not ‘risky’, ‘reckless’ or
‘hazardous’
– Perception often of being a business
process (shares/futures, property), and
not ‘gambling’

9. PG prevalence studies vary in NZ
• Abbott & Volberg 2000: 1.35% (current: last 12
months) Level 2 and 3 (moderate to severe) problem
gamblers in NZ and state “probably conservative and
possibly highly conservative”
• 2002/03 NZ Health Survey: 1.9% current Level 2
and 3 problem gambling
• 2006/07 Gaming & Betting Activities Survey: 9%
gambled to a harmful level in last 12 months (Level
2/3?)
• 2006/07 NZ Health Survey found 65% had gambled
in the last 12 months, 2% of these at moderate risk
for problems and 0.6% were problem gambling
(n=13,000)

10. Gambler’s
Luck perspective
of skill impact
Gambling
machines Most
Internet
Racing gambling
Lotto
Actual skill on
control of Poker
gambling outcome tournament
Gambler’s skill
casino cards

11. DSM-IV criteria
A persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour
with any 5 of these criteria:
• Preoccupied with gambling
• Increased $ gambled to achieve desired excitement
• Unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop
• Restless/irritable when attempting reduce or stop
• Uses gambling to reduce negative emotions
• Returns to chase losses
• Lies about extent of gambling
• Illegal behaviour to support gambling
• Risked or lost relationships or job because of gambling
• Relies on others for bailouts

12. EIGHT Screen: A NZ PG screening tool
• Development rationale (1993-1999)
– Many screens – SOGS, GA Screen
– Often long
– Not validated for NZ
• Original aim – a brief GP tool
• Generalisation
• Brief now very brief
• Used in NZ & overseas (Australia, HK, Sweden, Finland,
Canada etc)
• 2 questions in CHAT

13. EIGHT Screen
1. Sometimes I’ve felt depressed or anxious after a session of
gambling. ☐ yes, that’s true ☐ no, I haven’t
2. Sometimes I’ve felt guilty about the way I gamble
☐ yes, that’s so ☐ no, that isn’t so
3. When I think about it, gambling has sometimes caused me
problems. ☐ yes, that’s so ☐ no, that isn’t so
4. Sometimes I’ve found it better not to tell others, especially my
family, about the amount of time or money I spend gambling.
☐ yes, that’s true ☐ no, I haven’t
5. I often find that when I stop gambling I’ve run out of money
☐ yes, that’s so ☐ no, that isn’t so
6. Often I get the urge to return to gambling to win back losses from a
past session ☐ yes, that’s so ☐ no, that isn’t so
7. Yes, I have received criticism about my gambling in the past
☐ yes, that’s true ☐ no, I haven’t
8.Yes, I have tried to win money to pay debts
☐ yes, that’s true ☐ no, I haven’t

14. Brief Gambler Screen
Introduction/Opening Statement: Most people in New Zealand enjoy gambling,
whether it’s Lotto, track racing, the pokies or at the casino. Sometimes however it
can affect our health.
To help us to check your well-being, please answer the questions below as
truthfully as you are able from your own experience. A ‘no’ answer can also mean
that ‘I don’t gamble at all’.
1) Do you feel you have ever had a problem with gambling?
2) If the answer to Q1 is yes: Do you feel you currently have a problem
with gambling?
3) Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?
4) Have you ever had to lie to people about how much you gambled?
5) If you answered yes to any of the above, what would help?
□ I would like some information
□ I would like to talk about it in confidence with someone
□ I would like some support or help
□ Nothing at this stage

15. Lifestyle Assessment form (CHAT)
(Case Finding and Help Assessment Tool)
What we do and how we feel can sometimes affect our health. To help us assist you to reach and maintain a healthy
and enjoyable lifestyle, please answer the following questions to the best of your ability
How many cigarettes do you smoke on an average day?
none less than 1 a day 1-10 11-20 21-30 31 or more
Do you ever feel the need to cut down or stop your smoking? (tick no if you don’t smoke)
no  yes
if yes, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
Do you ever feel the need to cut down on your drinking alcohol? (if you don’t drink alcohol, just tick no)
no yes
In the last year, have you ever drunk more alcohol than you meant to?
no yes
if yes to either or both of these questions, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
Do you ever feel the need to cut down on your non-prescription or recreational drug use?
(if you do not use other drugs, just tick no)
no yes
In the last year, have you ever used non-prescription or recreational drugs more than you
meant to?
no yes
if yes to either or both of these questions, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
Do you ever feel unhappy or worried after a session of gambling? (if you do not gamble, just tick no)
no yes
Does gambling sometimes cause you problems?
no yes
if yes to either or both of these questions, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes

16. During the past month have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or
hopeless?
no yes
During the past month have you often been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in
doing things?
no yes
if yes to either or both of these questions, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
During the past month have you been worrying a lot about everyday problems?
no yes if yes, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
What aspects of your life are causing you significant stress at the moment?
none relationship work home life money health study other (specify)__________________
Is there anyone in your life whom you are afraid or who hurts you in any way?
no yes
Is there anyone in your life who controls you and prevents you doing what you want?
no yes
if yes to either or both of these questions, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
Is controlling your anger sometimes a problem for you?
no yes if yes, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
As a rule, do you do more than 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise (such as walking
or a sport) on 5 days of the week?
yes no if no, do you want help with this? no yes but not today yes
© Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care The University of Auckland

17. Summary
• Gambling is an age-old behaviour that is here to stay
• Problem gambling is a hard sell to the public but NZ is
taking an innovative approach
• Harm minimisation is new and there is limited research
to support apparent obvious harms
• Gambling is in a growth phase world-wide and
technology results in rapid accessibility