Our story

The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF) is a national non-profit organisation predominantly funded by the Ministry of Health with funds received from the gambling levy.

PGF is the largest single treatment provider for problem gambling in Australasia with over 60 locations throughout New Zealand and a staff of 70.  Qualified counsellors provide free, professional and confidential counselling services for both gamblers and others affected by gambling and a dedicated Public Health team works on problem gambling issues in the community using a health promotion approach.

PGF's Asian Services team provide professional counselling and advice in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Khmer and Thai.

The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand began as the Compulsive Gambling Society (CGS) in 1988 with funding from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. The prominent psychiatrist Fraser McDonald helped three men who were experiencing problems with gambling establish the CGS because at that time there were no services available to work with gambling problems.  CGS started out as a telephone service with the first national hotline of its type internationally commencing operations in 1992.  As the need grew, services expanded to include face-to-face services and a second clinic was opened in Manurewa in 1993.   

In 2001 The Problem Gambling Foundation succeeded the Compulsive Gambling Society, moving away from an addictions and medical-based philosophy to a public health approach.

PGF continues to grow and improve the range of services. The underlying philosophy of eliminating harm and the public health approach to problem gambling that started with the founding team, continues to underpin our work today.

To view the Problem Gambling Foundation Report to Stakeholders 2009 click here