New Zealand’s federal government has recently pulled the majority of funding from the Problem Gambling Foundation and cancelled its contract with the organisation. The Salvation Army will take over the responsibilities of the Problem Gambling Foundation in July 2014, and industry experts have varying opinions on the matter. The Problem Gambling Foundation has been around for 20 years.
During that time, the organisation counselled more than 25 000 people struggling with gambling addiction. Over the years, the Problem Gambling Foundation has built up a stellar reputation in the country, and residents know and trust the organisation’s counsellors.
Responsible gambling advocates are concerned that the trust residents have built for the Problem Gambling Foundation will be lost once the Salvation Army takes over the contract. Many problem gamblers have established rapports with their counsellors, and they will have to get to know and trust another individual.
“When start you saying 'sorry we can't see these people anymore, we have to see these people' you have to almost start from scratch all over again,” says Ekant Veer, an associate professor at Canterbury University. On the other hand, several groups have backed the government’s decision to hand the contract over to the Salvation Army. The Taxpayers’ Union is one of many groups that backs the move.
According to the Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the union, the Problem Gambling Foundation spent too much time and money advocating political policies. The union believes that the Salvation Army is more likely to use its funding to help problem gamblers. “This decision is long overdue and hopefully a signal that the Government is reviewing these types of faux charities,” he says.
“Far too many non-profits are taking taxpayer funding and using it for political campaigning”.
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