We thought we’d start off our news page with some insights on New Zealand’s gambling laws. In this article, we’re going to give you the lowdown on what’s legal and what’s not, a brief history of the country’s gambling laws and some extra details along the way.
Gambling Legislation
Gambling has been part of New Zealand’s traditions ever since the year 1830. Interestingly, its popularity soared higher and higher when people started placing bets on horse racing. Nowadays, it is one of the legal forms of gambling that is regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission. Since then, the Commission has set the required conditions for operators to obtain licenses, along with approving agreements between operators and license holders. More importantly, the New Zealand Gambling Commission ultimately decides whether to license a casino or not.
According to the 2003 Gambling Act, all forms of gambling in New Zealand are prohibited unless authorized by the government. Players under the age of 20 aren’t allowed to enter a land-based value, however, those who are at least 18 years of age can engage in lotteries, scratch cards and sports betting. Additionally, players residing in New Zealand can also place bets on horse races and slot machines.
Online Casino in New Zealand
When it comes to online casino, the situation in New Zealand is also slightly confusing. As of now, Kiwi law states that is illegal for players to engage in online gambling based in the country. However, players are allowed to open an account and place bets at offshore online casinos as long as they’re of age. That said, overseas providers still can’t promote their services in the country.