Pokie machines are being blamed for a big hike in the number of the problem gamblers seeking help in 2009.
The Health Ministry today reported a 25 percent increase in clients to problem gambling intervention services compared to the 2008 calendar year.
Almost 70 percent of clients who sought help were new clients.
The ministry's minimising harm group manager Barbara Phillips said it was pleasing to see that those with problems were seeking help.
"Problem gambling continues to be a significant problem for some. We know from international experience that those seeking help are only a small proportion of overall problem gambling prevalence."
The ministry said though all forms of gambling were contributing to a rise in problem gamblers seeking help, most problem gamblers reported problems with pokie machines.
There are 19,000 pokie machines spread throughout pubs and clubs nationwide.
The four main gambling sub-sectors- casinos, New Zealand Lotteries Commission, New Zealand Racing Board and the non-casino gaming machine sector were all reported by problem gamblers as a primary problem.
