KEY POINTS:
Christchurch is the gambling-related crime capital of New Zealand, according to the Problem Gambling Foundation.
Chief executive John Stansfield said a court case this week involving an elderly man highlighted the criminal problems associated with gambling in New Zealand.
The Christchurch Press yesterday reported the court appearance of problem gambler Allan Summersby, 75, who bought the bank account details of a family trust for $20, then used them to withdraw $1400.
"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," Mr Stansfield said. "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."
Mr Stansfield said gambling-related crime was reported more frequently in Christchurch than anywhere else in the country.
Cases reported this year included:
* A man who committed six knife-point robberies to fund his gambling problem (September).
* A man who committed public nuisance offences because of his gambling and alcohol problems (September).
* A catering manager who stole $6872 from his employer for gambling (September).
* A WINZ case manager fraudulently accessed $102,475 by inventing a client so that he could gamble the money (July).
* A man with a history of fraud, who defrauded an employer of $5761 for gambling (July).
* A lawyer who defrauded a client of $699,942 for lifestyle and gambling (April).
Mr Stansfield said thousands of New Zealanders were convicted of gambling-related crimes, including fraud, money-laundering and theft, each year.
"These people are not career criminals. They could be our loved ones, our workmates and our neighbours," he said. "When we look at the big picture, we can see that problem gambling has harmed us all in some way or form.
"It is often not realised that problem gambling affects more than the just the individual."
Research indicated seven people were affected for every one person's problem gambling.
- NZPA
