An organisation that helps problem gamblers has had more than 12,000 clients in six years, and says the main culprit is gaming machines in pubs and clubs.
The Problem Gambling Committee said 20,900 calls were made to a toll-free helpline during the same time.
The number of calls last year was 15per cent up on the previous year.
It was found that six to 12 months after counselling, 68 per cent of clients had improved and were spending less on gambling.
In its report to Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins, the committee said almost $27 million had been spent on helping problem gamblers and their families over the past six years.
Last financial year, funder trustees - Christchurch Casino, Dunedin Casino, Sky City Ltd, the Totalisator Agency Board, the Gaming Machine Association and the Lottery Grants Board - gave $9.225 million to the committee, 59 per cent more than in the previous financial year.
Extra non-casino gaming machines licensed during the year meant the committee got $625,000 more than the planned industry contribution of $8.6 million.
The Problem Gambling Committee said 4866 new callers rang the toll-free telephone helpline during the 2002/03 year.
The number of women problem gamblers calling had been increasing steadily.
In 2002/03, 1521 women called the helpline with gambling problems compared with 1515 men.
And 3654 people used counselling services during the year, 71 per cent of them first-time clients.
This was a 17 per cent increase over the previous year in the number of new clients and the total clients using committee services.
Most people who used the services had "serious gambling problems".
Their average loss from gambling in the four weeks before assessment was $2112.
And 80 per cent of clients said they were "mostly" or "completely" out of control with their gambling.
The committee said the main issue for problem gamblers continued to be gaming machines in pubs and clubs.
The Ministry of Health will take over the management of problem gambling services from July next year.
