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In this edition of Gambits:now we:

• Update you on the consultation on the Australia/New Zealand National Standard for Gaming Equipment
• Let you know that the 2015 Gambling Sector Survey Report is now available
• Inform you about upcoming changes in the senior management of Gambling Compliance.

The Department has now met with a number of stakeholders on the consultation on the Australia/New Zealand National Standard for Gaming Machine Equipment. As you will know the consultation is seeking feedback on:

• The National Standard itself
• The New Zealand Appendix to the standard.

As a result of feedback to date, via meetings, we consider that further work is required on the New Zealand Appendix. In light of this we are withdrawing the New Zealand Appendix from consultation and we will be reconsidering our approach to engaging with relevant stakeholders to develop a revised Appendix. The current New Zealand Appendix remains in force and is available on our website.

Please note that we are proceeding with consultation on the National Standard itself with submissions due by 11 April as previously advised. The National Standard is attached. Please send your submission to bruce.manuge@dia.govt.nz. As indicated in our consultation document, the main standard has been developed through a collaborative process with Australian and New Zealand regulators and the industry.

Thank you for your feedback. We apologise for any inconvenience associated with withdrawing the NZ Appendix from consultation, and we look forward to further engaging with you on this in due course.

We have conducted annual surveys since 2009 to help us understand our stakeholders’ view of our performance and their experience of engaging and communicating with us on gambling compliance issues. The perspectives gained enable us to identify the areas in which we are doing well and where we can make improvements.

The 2015 Gambling Sector Survey report is available on our website.

The survey, conducted in July 2015 with 223 responses,  was broadened to capture the views of a wider range of sector stakeholders, including Territorial Authorities and additional service providers such as gaming machine manufacturers.  In previous years the survey had included people associated mainly with Class 4 non-club societies and clubs.

The 2015 survey was also refreshed and for the first time included a question about ethnic diversity in sector organisations. This information will be used to help us improve our strategies and programmes. In particular it will help us deliver on the Department’s Te Aka Taiwhenua Framework (Māori Strategic Framework). 

It was pleasing to hear that, overall, respondents rated the quality of the information we provide highly, with almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of respondents rating it as good or very good. However, we heard that there are areas where improvements can be made. Although respondents told us that our website is well used and provides good information, they also told us that the website can be difficult to navigate and therefore it is not always easy to find the necessary information.

A particular highlight was that most respondents recognise our priorities connected to gambling harm and agreed that the sector is actively protecting gamblers and communities from harm.  We take minimising harm caused by problem gambling very seriously and these responses confirm that this priority is widely recognised by stakeholder groups across the sector. We will continue to work with the sector towards our vision of a safe, transparent and trusted gambling sector that benefits communities, and one where the sector actively protects gamblers and communities from gambling harm.

Thank you to those who took the time to participate in the survey and provide us with this valuable feedback.

Changes in the senior management of Gambling Compliance will take effect on 11 April, following the six month secondment of Regulatory Services General Manager Maarten Quivooy to lead the Office of Ethnic Communities (OEC).  Maarten’s skills and experience in managing policy and service delivery will enable the Department and the OEC to maximise the benefits of New Zealand’s growing ethnic diversity to support strong, resilient communities. Current OEC Director, Berlinda Chin, is moving to the Beehive to support the Minister for Ethnic Communities, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Raj Krishnan, the Director for Gambling Compliance will become the Acting General Manager for Regulatory Services and Gareth Bostock will move from his role as Deputy Director Gambling Compliance to be the Acting Director Gambling Compliance.  In his role as GM Raj will be responsible for a range of regulatory services in addition to Gambling including Censorship, Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Spam and Private Security.

Raj has been the Director Gambling Compliance for the last two years, and brings strong policy and operational delivery experience to the role of General Manager.  Prior to taking up the Deputy Director role earlier this year, Gareth was the Manager of our Regulatory Investigations Unit, where he worked in close partnership with Raj as the Director for Gambling Compliance. Gareth also brings considerable experience from investigative roles prior to joining the Department of Internal Affairs.

These changes signal a continuation of the current direction for the Department’s work with the gambling sector. We will continue to regulate for a safe, transparent and trusted gambling sector that benefits communities.