Line-up of speakers for the 7th International Gambling Conference (New Zeeland)

An impressive line-up of renowned international and local speakers will feature at the 7th International Gambling Conference, being held at the Sir Paul Reeves Building at AUT University, 12 – 14 February 2018.

Professor Max Abbott (CNZM), Director of AUT University’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, will set the scene with an opening address entitled ‘Flipping the iceberg on gambling harm – a public health perspective on gambling and gambling-related harm.

The programme also includes inspiring presentations from four keynote speakers; Dr Lance O’ Sullivan, Northland Doctor and Former New Zealander of the Year; Dr Vladimir Poznyak, Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Management of Substance Abuse Unit; Dr Rebecca Cassidy, Head of the Anthropology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London; and Dr Samson Tse from the University of Hong Kong, who is a Professor in Mental Health at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Conference, themed Flipping the iceberg on gambling harm, mental health and co-existing issues, will explore the complexities of gambling harm, with the iceberg analogy used to portray how important it is to look at ‘what lies below the surface’ in addition to what is presented on top. Gambling harms rarely occur in isolation. Rather, one of the key features of gambling problems is co-morbidity with a range of other harmful behaviours, environmental or situational factors, or poor mental health, such as alcohol use and depression. This poses challenges both from a clinical and public health perspective and this conference will facilitate robust discussion on how we define gambling harm.

The 7th International Gambling Conference is hosted by the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at AUT University, and the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand.

This biennial conference is a well-established international event which in 2016 attracted over 240 delegates from 14 countries as far afield as Scandinavia.

Following the Conference an International Think Tank on Gambling Research, Policy and Practice is being held at the AUT City Campus, 15-16 February. The Think Tank will bring together experts in their field to ensure progress on current collaborative projects and identify new initiatives to expand knowledge and advance gambling policy and practice.

For more information on the conference and to view the complete programme please visit: internationalgamblingconference.com