Why People Gamble: A Qualitative Study of Four New Zealand Ethnic Groups

In multicultural countries such as New Zealand, it is particularly important that gambling research take into account possible
cultural differences. Many New Zealanders come from cultures that do not have a history of gambling, including the Mäori (New
Zealand indigenous people), Pacific Islanders, and recent migrants. Little research has examined the reasons why people start
and continue to gamble, especially among different ethnic groups. This research project thus aimed to develop a framework
to explain how environmental, cultural, and social factors interact with personal attributes to determine gambling behaviors.
In a qualitative study, 131 people broadly representative of Mäori, Pacific, Asian, and Päkehä/New Zealand European groups
residing in New Zealand were interviewed individually or in focus groups. They included social and problem gamblers, families
of problem gamblers, and professionals. Different personal, socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors were identified,
summarized in a developmental framework, and compared to factors found for ethnic groups in other countries. Public health
policy issues were raised, including greater control of gambling promotion.