Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

A gambling service provider that the National Party says the Government has overpaid says it is looking at repaying some of the money. National MP Sandra Goudie has accused the Government of wasting thousands of dollars by overpaying problem gambling organisations. She said in Parliament on Thursday that the Pacific People's Addiction Service in Hamilton was given $143,000 to counsel more than 300 problem gamblers last year but it counselled only eight. The addiction service's general manager, Ned Cook, told Checkpoint it could not get the right staff and found people were not willing to admit they were problem gamblers. Mr Cook says the provider agreed to the contract, thinking it could deliver the service. Other providers Ms Goudie named other providers and has asked the Auditor-General to investigate the issue. She said the Waipareira Trust received $180,000 to counsel 440 problem gamblers but had counselled only 13. Associate Health Minister Damiem O'Connor said the providers are among 13 under review, which could take several months. He says the problem gambling organisations will have to pay money back to the Ministry of Health if the review finds they are not fulfilling their contracts.