Members of New Zealand’s parliament approved on Tuesday the first reading of the Online Casino Gambling Bill, a measure aiming to legalise and regulate online gambling in the country.
The nation’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, said in a Tuesday statement that the bill seeks to protect players who gamble online by introducing proper safeguards.
“Currently, New Zealanders can legally access thousands of offshore gambling websites. But the market is unregulated, so there are no player safety standards or oversight of harm minimisation,” said Ms van Velden in a statement published on the official website of the New Zealand government.
She added: “My intention with this bill is to ensure that online gambling is safer for New Zealanders who wish to gamble online.”
A further aim was that “companies providing this service contribute to tax revenue and funding the services that treat gambling harm in New Zealand,” said the minister.
The bill allows for up to 15 online gambling licences – available for three-year terms – to be auctioned, with companies applying for a permit needing to meet strict criteria, including having a harm-prevention strategy and providing information on their compliance history.
According to the document, the Department of Internal Affairs will enforce the new regulatory system, with all costs recovered from fees on licensed gambling companies.
The bill proposes that gamblers would have to be at least 18, and only casino games would be allowed. Fines of up to NZD5 million (US$3 million) “can be applied to companies for breaking the rules,” noted the statement.
The document will now proceed to a select committee in parliament, and Ms van Velden encouraged New Zealanders “to have their say when public submissions open,” before the final reading.
New Zealand’s authorities have said they plan to auction the licences in 2026. In late June, the New Zealand authorities called for online casino operators to register their interest in bidding for a licence.
“For online casino operators interested in entering the New Zealand market, the most important thing you can do is register your interest,” said Trina Lowry, the online gambling implementation programme director.
“As we continue to design and implement the system, we want to ensure it is clear, efficient and supportive for potential operators,” Ms Lowry stated.
“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,” she added.
