New Zealand plans to tighten iGaming regulations

New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Weldon presented a bill on online casino gambling to parliament. 

She stated, “The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritize harm minimization, consumer protection, and tax collection.”

This can be considered the government’s first step toward regulating the gray area of iGaming.

The bill does not provide for a total ban on online casinos, but only 15 operators will be eligible for a license. 

Licenses will be available through a competitive auction process.

To be eligible to participate, applicants must:

• provide comprehensive business plans;
• meet a number of compliance conditions.

Operators who do obtain a license will have the right to advertise. However, they will also be required to comply with a list of restrictions regarding placement, content, etc.

For unlicensed activities, the proposed changes to the legislation provide for a fine of USD 3.04 million.

The licensing system is expected to be launched by the end of 2025. However, there are also nuances and doubts about the feasibility of this plan. New Zealand prioritizes consumer welfare. The government aims to protect citizens from the harm caused by online casinos. But whether these legislative changes will be implemented remains to be seen.