Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

Fraud study links gambling and fraud "Gambling is increasingly a major motivator for serious fraud," says John Stansfield, CEO of the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF). "Since the last KPMG Fraud Survey in 2004, there has been a 60% increase in the amount of New Zealand fraud that was motivated by gambling. The 2004 study found that gambling was the highest motivator for serious fraud, and I would expect that trend to continue in 2006," says Mr Stansfield. "We are hearing of more and more fraud in New Zealand organizations. Studies such as the 2006 KPMG Fraud Survey and the 2006 BDO Not-For-Profit Fraud Survey both identify gambling as a motivator for fraud, which shows just how much gambling costs New Zealand organizations," he says. "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. "Gambling crime is growing at an alarming rate, and gambling is the reason for the most serious property fraud in a number of cases." Some recent examples of fraud in New Zealand organizations include: Catering manager stole $6872 from his employer for gambling (Christchurch, September 2006)

Man defrauded friend out of $101,000 by lying so that he could gamble (Hamilton, July 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) Woman committed benefit fraud of $11,000 for gambling (Nelson, July 2006)