Why gambling harm has received less attention
What we can do about it
Written by Colin Edwards
Published 27 January 2026
Gambling harm has long sat in the background, not because the harm is small, but because it is often unseen. Unlike other health issues, gambling harm is usually private. It happens quietly, behind closed doors, and often carries a deep sense of shame. By the time harm becomes visible, it is often already well advanced.
This invisibility shapes how gambling harm is understood, and why it has received less attention.
Why gambling harm is often missed
We know from the many conversations and shared experience that gambling harm is:
Hidden and carried in silence
Accepted until impacts become severe
Experienced not just by the person gambling, but by whānau, aiga, and families
Defined to money loss first, rather than time, relationships, wellbeing, and trust
Many people experiencing harm do not see themselves as having a “problem”, especially in the early stages. Harm develops gradually, often long before crisis points are reached. This is why relying only on service responses will always mean we are too late.
A shift is underway
There is, however, an important shift happening. Across Aotearoa and internationally, lived experience is increasingly recognised as essential to preventing and minimising gambling harm, not just responding to it, through initiatives such as:
The He Awa Hou gambling harm peer support framework
The easy-to-use guide
Communities of practice
Discovery and learning spaces
Lived experience is no longer on the edges of the work. It is being placed at the centre of learning, reflection, and action, shaping how gambling harm prevention, minimisation, and support are understood and delivered. The creation of safe spaces has been powerful because they allow people to show up as they are, without judgement, expectation, or pressure, and that is where real learning and connection begin.
We have learned together that change happens when:
Lived experience is shared safely, ethically, and with consent
Affected others are recognised, not overlooked
Services work together rather than in isolation
Conversations about gambling harm become normal and non-judgemental
People can see that there is a way forward
Peer support walks alongside
From silence to connection
Reducing stigma is not about telling more stories. It is about creating the right conditions for people to speak, if and when they choose to. The He Awa Hou framework reminds us that lived experience is not a single moment or story. It is a journey, shaped by relationships, culture, and context. When lived experience is:
Respected
Supported
Integrated alongside clinical and cultural practice
Stigma reduces, understanding grows, and people are more likely to seek support earlier.
What can you do?
You do not need to be an expert to make a difference. You can:
Speak about gambling harm without judgement or blame
Notice changes and check in early
Include whānau and affected others in conversations
Support learning spaces that reduce stigma and build understanding
Help shift the focus from crisis to prevention
The future of gambling harm prevention does not sit at the bottom of the cliff. It sits upstream, in connection, learning, and shared responsibility.