The Problem Gambling Foundation is concerned by a rise in people using online lotto and gambling sites during the Covid-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n
The Lotto app. Photo: RNZ \/ Richard Tindiller<\/p>\n
Physical premises have been shut to customers, but gamblers can still access services from computers, mobile phones and tablets.<\/p>\n
Lotto sales have been reduced to about 60 percent of normal sales, because of the store closures, Lotto New Zealand said.<\/p>\n
\"We expected to see a significant drop in sales during the lockdown, as we would normally see around 75 percent of our sales come from retail stores, and 25 percent online,\" it said.<\/p>\n
However, about 125,000 customers had registered with MyLotto online, which had resulted in a more than twice the normal online sales.<\/p>\n
Casino operator SkyCity said its online offering has been trading strongly over the past two months. It now has more than 15,000 registered users on the site.<\/p>\n
Problem Gambling Foundation chairman Richard Northey said online gambling was dangerously accessible.<\/p>\n
\"If they're at home they can access [it] straight away, particularly among younger people, who in the lockdown are looking for other recreational opportunities.\"<\/p>\n
Northey said international gambling sites were particularly bad as they did not show any responsibility.<\/p>\n
The foundation has had to close all clinics during the lockdown, but counselling was still being offered by phone and video calls.<\/p>\n
New Zealanders spent about $2402 million on gambling carried out within the country in the 2018\/19 financial year, including $530m on Lotto and $616m at casinos, Department of Internal Affairs data shows.<\/p>\n
Data from the Health Promotion Agency showed most people are gambling less, or about the same.<\/p>\n
The report revealed:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the rest here:<\/p>\n
Punters move online as Lotto, SkyCity report increased activity in lockdown - RNZ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Problem Gambling Foundation is concerned by a rise in people using online lotto and gambling sites during the Covid-19 lockdown. The Lotto app. Photo: RNZ \/ Richard Tindiller Physical premises have been shut to customers, but gamblers can still access services from computers, mobile phones and tablets. Continue reading