INTRODUCTION: Forming a problematic relationship with gambling has major consequences for gamblers, families, communities, and society. As the third-largest ethnic group in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Chinese community faces increasing challenges with casino gambling.
This paper reports on Chinese migrants’ lived experience of their challenges and needs in responding to gambling harm.

METHODS: Sixteen recent migrants (both gamblers and affected family members) from eight families were interviewed. Data analysis comprised a comprehensive thematic approach involving multiple readings of interview transcripts and an iterative development of themes, guided by hermeneutic phenomenological methods.

FINDINGS: Participants shared their experiences of pathways into gambling and ways to respond to gambling harm. The key findings are presented as four stages, which can be conceptualised as: misconnecting, disconnecting, reconnecting, and rebuilding natural life.

CONCLUSION: This article presents qualitative evidence of Chinese migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand’s experiences with excessive gambling and considerations for social workers, service providers and policymakers when developing programmes and policies for preventing and minimising gambling harm for this population.

KEYWORDS: Phenomenology; gambling treatment approaches; gambling harm; Chinese migrants; Chinese culture