The Compulsive Gambling Society of New Zealand Inc. commenced operation of its nationwide hotline in 1992. Data indicated that many gamblers considered suicide as a solution to their problems & that pathological gambling may have increased rapidly with the introduction of new forms of gambling. This paper discusses those mental disorders that correlate highly with suicide & how many of these disorders accompany problem gambling. It is suggested that research into these correlations may help to understand why New Zealand experienced an increase in the number of suicides. (27 refs.)