A new game show-style television campaign to help people recognise the early signs of harmful gambling is going to air as more than $6.5million is lost to non-casino gambling machines this year alone.

Game show host Nua Finau. Photo: Supplied.

‘The Game Show', produced by the Health Promotion Agency, is an innovative television advert campaign to help highlight when a person's gambling can be getting out of hand.

Health Promotion Agency minimising gambling harm programme manager Hannah Booth says with more than $2billion lost to gambling in New Zealand annually – and the $6.5m Tauranga figure, according to the latest Department of Internal Affairs figures – this is a hugely important message.

The new game show advert shows where people reach for help and protect themselves and others from gambling harm.

Using the setting of a fictional game show, with former Small Blacks TV presenter Nua Finau as host, the advert explains the three key signs that someone's gambling becoming more than just fun.

The key signs are: spending more to win back money lost, often called chasing losses; hiding or lying about gambling; and suffering feelings of guilt or stress, often directly after gambling.

Non-casino gambling includes pubs and clubs, which under the Gambling Act 2003 may only be conducted by a corporate society to raise money for an authorised community and non-commercial purpose.

Hannah says any indications of the key signs can show a person is experiencing gambling harm – and their not specifically for people with serious gambling problems.

'We want everyone to be aware and do something as soon as any of the signs are noticed. All too often we see clients when they are experiencing real harm from their gambling.

'This is a great way to encourage people to make changes and seek help earlier,” says Hannah.

'It really is a game show with a difference, with all New Zealanders being potential winners.”

Launching with television commercials, the campaign will also run on radio, online, and within and around selected gambling venues nationwide.

For more information or help visit choicenotchance.org.nz or call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.