NZ - Gambling and crime go hand-in-hand
Press Release [13.12.06]
“Gambling-related crime is crossing more boundaries and is being reported more often in Christchurch than any other New Zealand city,” says John Stansfield, CEO of the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF).
“An elderly man buying a bank account number, and then fraudulently made withdrawals to fund his gambling is a serious concern,” says Mr Stansfield.
“This is not the type of behaviour that is common to our elderly, and proves that absolutely anyone can be affected by a gambling problem,” he says.
“The cost of this kind of crime falls not only on the family of the family trust but also his family and the whole community,” says Stansfield.
“The Christchurch community is suffering, and once again, Christchurch is looking like to be the gambling-related crime capital of New Zealand.”
Cases of gambling-related crime in Christchurch include:
Man committed six knife-point robberies to fund his gambling problem (September, 2006)
Man committed public nuisance offences because he of his gambling and alcohol problems (September, 2006)
Catering manager stole $6872 from his employer for gambling (September, 2006)
WINZ case manager fraudulently accessed $102,475 by inventing a client so that he could gamble the money (Christchurch, July 2006)
Man with a history of fraud, defrauded second employer of $5761 for gambling (Christchurch, July 2006)
Lawyer defrauded client of $699,942 for lifestyle and gambling (Christchurch, April 2006)
Trusted employee from a car hire company stole $16,793 from his employer for his gambling problem (October 2005)
Machinery operator stole $231,399 from his employer for gambling (October, 2005)
Board member stole $22,382 from a trust for a gambling problem (August, 2005)
Manager of a Sumner restaurant stole more that $16,000 for a gambling problem (August, 2005)
Key accounts manager stole $265,944 for gambling (June, 2005)
Christchurch bank teller embezzled $380,800 for gambling on pokies (April, 2005)
Business woman stole $186,000 to gamble at Christchurch Casino (March, 2005)
Hong Kong used car salesman swindled $275,000 from Chinese students (March 2005)
Salesman conned customers out of $27,750 to feed a gambling problem (September, 2004)
Woman stole $3000 from her employer and faked a burglary to fund her gambling problem (March, 2004)
Woman stole $10,000 from her employer to fund her husband’s gambling problem (March, 2004)
Woman stole $9012 from her employer to fund a gambling problem (August, 2003)
Lawyer stole $1.78million by fraud and forgery to gamble at Christchurch Casino (March, 2003)
Each year thousands of New Zealanders are convicted of gambling-related crimes. On a steadily increasing basis, there are reports of fraud, money-laundering and theft for people to fund their gambling problems.
“We believe that the figures really are higher than reported, as a significant number of gamblers are not caught, so the crimes don’t get discovered. In other cases, the crime is discovered but the link to gambling wasn’t,” says Stansfield.
“These people are not career criminals. They could be our loved ones, our workmates and our neighbours. When we look at the big picture see we can see that problem gambling has harmed us all in some way or form,” says Stansfield.
“It is often not realised that problem gambling affects more than the just the individual. Research indicates that at least seven people are affected by one person’s gambling. This includes husbands, wives, partners, children, wider family members, employers and employees.”
“It should be a major worry for the gambling industry, more and more the links between gambling and crime are becoming obvious”, he says.
“However, it is not all doom and gloom. If you think know someone with a gambling problem contact us now on 0800 664 262 before it becomes a problem with the law. PGF provides free and confidential services to anyone with – or affected by problem gambling.”
For more information please contact John Stansfield on (027) 448 1520.
