Gambling Laws in NZ | Rules & Regulations for Casino Players

Are you unsure how the New Zealand gambling laws protect you? Our experts will show you exactly how the NZ laws for gambling activities have protected you in the past and how the recent changes have only been in your best interest.

Gambling Laws in New Zealand – A Look Back

In 1908, the first gambling law was established. This law allowed players to gamble without the need for hiding. In 1961, another law, the Totalizator Gambling Act, was created under the Totalizator Agency Board (TAB). This law helped regulate certain forms of gambling, such as blackjack, pool, horse racing, racing cars, and police machines.  

Another set of laws known as the Racing Act 1971 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977 were created after some years to regulate gambling activities in the country under New Zealand legislation. The major aim of the Racing Act 1971 was to oversee fixed odds. The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977 allows non-casino groups to run instant games and controls casino venues. The gambling industry in New Zealand continues to experience immense growth, and the incorporation of regulatory laws plays a significant role.

Current Gambling Regulations in the NZ

The Gambling Act of 2003 regulates every gambling activity currently in New Zealand. This act groups the numerous types of gambling and gives the Gambling Commission power to ensure casino platforms and players comply with the law.

Your gambling experience will be better if you learn these regulations because they educate you on the significance of regulatory bodies, responsible gambling, and legal limits. Our experts at KingsCasinoBonus advise every gambler in the country to always stay updated on any latest gambling law and to search further in the current regulations.

The Licensing of Games and Machines

We previously mentioned that all gambling activities in New Zealand follow regulatory processes created by the Gambling Act of 2003. The New Zealand Gambling Commission also plays a significant role in supervising all operations of sites, especially licensing, which is a requirement for every casino in NZ. The rules that guide the licensing of games and slot machines are strict, ensuring that safe gambling practices are attained.  

The Gambling Act of 2003 ensures that all games and machines must get a license from the New Zealand Gambling Commission before being up in the country. The primary role of the New Zealand Gambling Commission is to ensure casino sites adhere to specific rules and fair play practices. Players must be above 19 to participate in gambling.

Every gambling platform in the country must be registered and willing to collaborate with the New Zealand Gambling Commission to promote safe gambling practices. Casino sites in the country must adopt a transparent style to ensure fair play for players.

Regulating Lotteries and Raffles

Raffles and lotteries follow the same rules as gambling activities. Still, their activities are regulated by a different Commission – The New Zealand Lotteries Commission regulates the activities of lotteries and raffles in New Zealand. The Commission’s primary job is collaborating with the Department of Internal Affairs and promoting accessible license applications. No unique rules regulate raffles and lotteries in NZ. 

Lotteries and Raffles are usually done to raise funds and turnovers for various projects. They can be hosted by community groups, sports clubs, charity organizations, business owners, or a corporate society. Hosts must follow the rules established by the Gambling Act of 2003. For example, they must apply for a license and have the standard gambling equipment to ensure players’ professional experience.

Keeping Online Gambling in Check

Online gambling and mobile betting follow the same rules and regulatory practices as land-based casinos but under different conditions. Their operations are also guided by guidelines created by the Gambling Act of 2003, but there are no home-based online gambling platforms in the country. So, players can only engage in online betting through overseas platforms.

The basic principles may be the same for online and land-based casinos, but they operate under different conditions. For example, the slot machine RTPs and online slots RTPs have significant differences. Online slots offer more profitable RTPs than slot machines. RTPs in slot machines are more rigid than in online slots because gaming authorities set them.

Like every aspect of betting in New Zealand, online casino bonuses operate through rules created by the Gambling Act of 2003. The National Gambling Commission makes sure online casino platforms follow the rules. Players should ensure they read each site’s bonus terms and conditions because the gambling platform specifies the details of offers.

The rules guiding casino operations in New Zealand allow players to be part of loyalty programs. These programs help reward players for consistently using their knowledge or skills and being regular customers.

How Does the Law Keep Gambling Safe?

The Gambling Act of 2003 stated that the primary purpose of the public act is to promote safety amongst gamblers and casinos. The act enforces licensing, regulation, and oversight, promoting fair play—the Ministry of Health and the Department of Internal Affairs help permit safety in the gambling industry. The primary role of the Ministry of Health is to provide funds for implementing integrated problem and gambling solutions and support services.

There are also laws in the Gambling Act that ensure a percentage of net proceeds from Class 4 Gambling contribute to solving specific gambling problems. Governments and regulatory bodies can implement other means to solve problem gambling. These means include incorporating third parties, Gamestop, sensitization on responsible gambling, and support services.

The Future of NZ Gambling Regulations

From observations and research, we can tell that the future of gambling regulations in New Zealand is promising. The country is fast becoming a hub for online and land-based casinos. More rules will be created, and stricter steps will be taken by regulatory bodies to ensure gambling in NZ is safe in many years to come. Stay with us as we discuss what we think the future of gambling regulations in New Zealand holds.

• Accepting international partnership proposals to solve borders-centered problems: Our experts at OnlineCasinos365 discovered that most problems with gambling in New Zealand occur due to international causes. The country’s New Zealand government and gambling regulatory bodies will partner with international regulatory bodies to solve these problems.
• Following the same strict regulations as the United Kingdom regulatory model to promote tighter rules: It is no news that the United Kingdom Gambling Commission is strict with its rules and regulations. The New Zealand Legislation and gambling regulatory bodies believe that following the UKGC model will help curb specific gambling problems in the country.
• Adjusting advertising models to ensure gambling sites comply with the rules and regulations: Advertising is becoming a crucial part of gambling in NZ. New Zealand regulatory bodies will create more rules to ensure companies in charge of advertising do not use unsafe and ill advertising models.
• Creating a more balanced gambling industry where advanced technology and safe gambling can coexist: Where there is high tech infusion, there is a tendency to be a high hacking or insecurity rate- so a balance between these two phenomena is a necessity. The Department of Internal Affairs wants to achieve this balance by creating strict regulations for tech companies that prevent them from sharing players’ personal information.