New Zealand Official: Race a Factor in Problem Gambling

NEW ZEALAND – As reported by the New Zealand Herald: "Problem gambling affects fewer people in Queenstown than the rest of the country because of the `white' nature of its community, a council official says.

"Roger Taylor, who heads a Queenstown Lakes District Council team formed to formulate new council gaming policies, was speaking at a public meeting last week. In Queenstown, problem gambling was less than the national average, he said.

"`The white nature of our community, compared to the large Maori and Polynesian populations in the North Island, has shown there is a higher vulnerability to gambling up there.'

"…But Queenstown gambling addiction counsellors Rose Fraser (Salvation Army) and Faye York (community mental health nurse) said there was `definitely' a problem with gambling addiction in Queenstown…"

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