Further decisions taken on regulating online casino gambling

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to further details of a new system to regulate online casino gambling.

"A new Online Gambling Bill will be drafted with the purpose to regulate online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and compliant regulated online gambling market. More importantly, it will prevent and minimise online gambling harm and limit opportunities for crime and dishonesty," says Ms van Velden.

"I am pleased that the system will deliver to these objectives by prohibiting advertising that appeals to children, requiring online gambling operators to have an acceptable age verification system, and introducing fines of up to $5 million for operators that break the law."

Online casino gambling is currently unregulated in New Zealand, so harm prevention and consumer protection requirements do not apply. This has caused some issues for consumers, for example some online gambling operators make it very difficult for customers to withdraw their winnings.

"My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can today.

"Currently, New Zealanders can and do gamble on thousands of offshore gambling websites. By introducing a regulatory system my intention is to channel customers towards up to fifteen licensed operators."

"Further regulations will be developed on the detailed rules around advertising, as well as harm minimisation and consumer protection requirements. This is the same approach used in the existing Gambling Act and will give us more flexibility to adjust the regulations where necessary."

"The new regulatory system will be in place by early 2026. I look forward to taking the Bill through Parliament next year and hearing feedback from the public during the Select Committee stage."