New research shows a church’s position on gambling directly affects its congregation.
Whether Pacific people gambled was largely influenced by their church, and whether the denomination endorsed gambling or not, researchers found.
Additionally, the study found that New Zealand offered more gambling opportunities and more free time than Pacific countries, and many study participants viewed gambling as an easy way to make money.
The study, commissioned by the Ministry of Health and carried out by AUT University, found a lack of gambling opportunities in Pacific Island countries, as well as cultural and religious views, influenced people’s attitudes and behaviour.
About 100,000 of New Zealand’s 4.3 million residents is a problem gambler and Pacific islanders are the most at-risk ethnic group to develop problem or pathological gambling behaviours. Pasifika peoples are four times more likely to be a problem gambler than any other ethnic group.
Source
- TVNZ
- Island Business
- Image: teachingamsam
