The Government's decision to use Lotto to raise funds for regions devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle has drawn criticism from the Green Party, which argues that lotteries and gambling disproportionately harm lower-income communities.
However, the special Lotto draw on March 18 could also raise millions of dollars as part of the cyclone recovery effort, where every dollar will count.
Andree Froude, Director of Communications for the Problem Gambling Foundation, expressed concern over the use of Lotto as a means of fundraising.
"The big question is why we have to use gambling as a means to raise the money when there are so many other ways it could be done," Froude said.
By promoting Lotto, she worries the Government is normalising gambling, a significant social issue in Aotearoa.
Some people are labelling Lotto as a 'poor tax' which Froude told O'Brien while she wouldn't necessarily call it that, a large percentage of Lotto ticket buyers are from 'deprived communities'.
"There is no doubt that it disproportionately impacts people that are living in our more deprived communities."
Despite the criticisms from the Green Party on the use of Lotto as a means to raise funds for regions devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, Lotto's Director of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Lucy Fullarton, has defended the fundraising effort.
"The vast majority of people who buy Lotto tickets just spend a little bit, that's what we know, we look at the data all the time," Fullarton said.
"It's something that more than 80 percent of New Zealanders buy, it's something that people just have a bit of fun with."
She told O'Brien they speak to the Problem Gambling Foundation regularly and acknowledge Lotto is gambling and have a program that is designed to understand and minimise the risks of harm from their product.
"It is something we take really seriously."
Regardless of how people feel about Lotto being used to raise funds, the draw is set to take place on March 18th, with hopes that it will raise millions to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts in affected regions.
Listen to the full interview between Andree Froude, Lucy Fullarton and Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go. Download the rova app on apple or android to listen to this podcast on the go, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
