New Zealand’s online casino bill has been introduced to the country’s Parliament by Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, which includes plans to auction up to 15 licences for the regulated market.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill plans to regulate the online casino gambling market in New Zealand, which is currently unregulated, by early next year.
“The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritise harm minimisation, consumer protection, and tax collection,” stated van Velden.
In July 2024, van Velden put forward the idea of a regulated online casino market in New Zealand by 2026.
Key features of the bill that have been outlined since then include up to 15 licences to be auctioned to operators. Each prospective licensee must also present detailed information, including business plans for their operations in the country, to the regulator, which will be the Department of Internal Affairs.
Any operator that receives a licence will be allowed to advertise with restrictions, while unlicensed operators will be prohibited and subject to fines up to NZ$5m if they break the law.
Opposition
While there is optimism among many industry stakeholders for a regulated online casino market in New Zealand, there is also opposition. The Iwi leaders of the country’s Māori tribes and communities have threatened to take legal action against the Government’s plans.
Back in April, Māori advocacy group Pou Tangata called on the New Zealand Government to abandon its plans to auction 15 online casino licences. Chair Rāhui Papa has argued that the liberalisation of online gambling is being implemented without adequate Māori input and consideration of social consequences, and that it will primarily benefit offshore operators.
Reports also emerged in March this year that SkyCity Entertainment Group and TAB NZ are also against allowing up to 15 licensed online casino operators in New Zealand.
SkyCity has reportedly argued that only five licences should be issued and that they should only be given to those who have a domestic presence. Meanwhile, TAB has reportedly said only five to seven licences should be issued to New Zealand-based operators.
Operator funding and input
Further details of online casino advertising and harm minimisation standards are in development and will set out the specific requirements operators must comply with.
Recently, the New Zealand Government outlined its strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm, which will involve investing more than $81m in various components of the services available to those affected in the country.
The gambling harm support services will be funded through the new Problem Gambling Levy Regulations and paid by non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, TAB NZ and Lotto NZ. Work is currently taking place to determine how future online casino operators will contribute.
Earlier this month, the Department of Internal Affairs also asked operators who have an interest in the country’s online casino framework to register ahead of the launch of the new market and provide their input, helping to make the market as cooperative as possible.
Trina Lowry, the Online Gambling Implementation Programme Director, noted: “As we continue to design and implement the system, we want to ensure it is clear, efficient and supportive for potential operators.
“To help us achieve this, we want to engage with operators to understand what information would be most helpful as the process unfolds and understand their experience and needs.”
For now, van Velden noted that the Online Casino Gambling Bill will be sent to the select committee later this year, offering New Zealanders the opportunity to have their say through the select committee process.
