The New Zealand government has introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill to establish a regulated domestic market for online casinos. This is seen as a necessary move to protect consumers, minimise gambling harm, and ensure tax revenue is collected domestically.
Core Regulatory Details
The new framework introduces strict rules for operators, which will be regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA):
Licence Limit: There will be a strict limit of 15 licences made available for allocation via an auction process.
Operator Cap: A single operator can hold a maximum of three of the 15 total licences, promoting diversity in the market.
Licence Term: Licences will be granted for a period of three years, with a potential right of renewal for up to five years, provided requirements are met.
Game Scope: Licensed operators will only be permitted to offer online casino games (e.g., pokies/slots, table games, virtual sports). They are expressly prohibited from offering sports betting (which is exclusive to TAB NZ) or lottery products.
Tax and Revenue: The government currently estimates annual online gambling spend is around NZ$700–800 million. The intent is to bring this revenue, estimated at approximately NZ$179 million per year, back to New Zealand through a new Offshore Gambling Duty, with a portion ringfenced for community returns.
Harm Minimisation and Advertising
The new system places a strong emphasis on reducing gambling-related harm:
Minimum Age: The minimum age for online gambling will be strictly 18. Age verification must be completed before a player can deposit funds.
Player Controls: Players will be required to set limits on time, spend, and deposits when creating an account. While they can opt out and set no limit, the system ensures they actively consider these controls.
Advertising Rules: While licensed operators will be permitted to advertise (a right currently prohibited), the rules will be strictly limited:
Advertising is prohibited between 6:00 am and 9:30 pm.
Broadcast advertising (TV, radio, streaming) is limited to a maximum of five 30-second advertisements per 24-hour period, per licensed platform.
Sponsorship by online casinos will remain illegal.
Advertisements must include consistent, specific harm minimisation messaging for at least 10% of the advertisement’s length.
The penalties for unlicensed operators will be severe, including fines of up to NZ$5 million.
