Organisers of an international problem gambling conference underway in Auckland say policy makers are in a never ending battle against the changing industry.

The biennial event is this year themed around 'preventing harm in the shifting gambling environment'.

AUT professor of psychology and public health Max Abbott said changing technologies and gambling strategies mean they can't be complacent.

"Gambling is like rust that never sleeps. It's constantly changing [as] the gambling industries are looking to increase market share.

"They vary considerably in terms of the health and social risk that they carry with them."

Abbott said a major worry is gambling online and on apps which doesn't involve money but uses inflated odds so people think they'll do better than they actually do.