His experience in the industry is second to none, and we are grateful to have him on our team. Gambling winnings are not regarded as tax in New Zealand and are not taxed. However, if you play for a living, you might have to pay taxes on your earnings. New Zealanders have many resources available to help overcome problem gambling. The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand offers gambling addiction helplines, counselling, and support groups.
Enforcement measures are primarily carried out through a combination of proactive measures and investigations in response to reports or complaints. The Department of Internal Affairs actively monitors the online gambling landscape, collaborating with other regulatory bodies and international agencies to address any potential breaches of the law. In New Zealand, online gambling has spawned a rapidly growing multi-million-dollar industry that has sparked discussions regarding its legal status.
Gambling (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2023
If the transactions are deemed illegal under state or federal law, online casinos can’t proceed with the payment. This made online casinos (and their players) think twice before engaging in any gambling activity. New Zealand-based online casinos are a no-go but overseas-based online casinos are fair game. Just remember to choose reputable platforms to ensure legality and reliability, and confirm that you can withdraw winnings without a problem.
It is estimated that thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders gamble online each year. Lotto tickets have been available online since 2000, but only through the official MyLotto website. Any other online lottery or offshore https://plangames-nz.com/ provider is not legally authorized to operate in New Zealand. These are some of the criteria used by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in New Zealand to determine the legitimacy of online casinos operating in the country. The law acknowledges the legality of offshore sites linked to New Zealand casinos, subjecting them to the new tax. New Zealand’s gaming establishments may contribute directly to social development, community engagement, and health and wellness initiatives by making this donation to the local community.
How the Gambling Act is applied in terms of online gambling
Players must be at least 20 years old to enter land-based casinos but can participate in sports betting (including horse racing), scratch cards, and lotteries from age 18. These offshore licenses impose certain regulations, but they are not issued by New Zealand and do not make a casino legal under NZ law. The legitimacy of offshore casinos is a gray area, and players should be cautious. The regulations apply to class 4 venues (pubs, clubs and TABs with electronic gaming machines) and societies. These regulations introduce infringement offences and fees for failures to comply with regulations in the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023. The infringement offences cover compliance failures relating to jackpot branding, advertising, and problem gambling information in venues.
It’s all about keeping those gambling dollars circulating within the local economy—a smart move given that the average Kiwi drops about $648 on gambling each year. While Kiwis are free to engage in all the gambling fun they fancy within the country’s borders, the moment a gambling site is based in New Zealand, the concept of remote gambling hits a legal snag. In New Zealand, the rules of the game when it comes to gambling are pretty clear-cut, thanks to the Gambling Act of 2003 and its subsequent updates.
- While the government’s plans are currently being developed Van Velden shared some details of the regulatory framework.
- This statistic is a testament to the effective balance New Zealand has struck, fostering a gambling environment that’s both exciting and safe.
- State-owned institutions operate the largest proportion of the gambling industry.
- The legalese in the Act can be tedious to read so we are going to break down the key aspects in simpler terms.
The telecommunications regulator controls all online content and blocks access to any gambling site. And if a UAE resident is caught by the authorities whilst playing, say, roulette, he can be sentenced to two years in prison. Organic growth is the way to go if you’re in the online casino market.
Read my recommendation of the top online casinos in NZ where you can play legally and withdraw with no issues. The new offshore gambling duty allows NZ players to continue playing legally. However, some casinos may adjust fees, reduce bonuses, or exit the market. Operators might pass tax costs onto players through lower payouts, higher fees, or stricter deposit/withdrawal conditions. The 12% offshore gambling duty applies to foreign casinos but doesn’t change their legality. They remain unregulated by NZ authorities, so players should choose licensed, reputable sites.
These laws didn’t necessarily shut down casinos and online gambling platforms. UIGEA forced states to implement their own legal online gambling regulations. Only the NZ lottery and TAB (for sports gambling and horse race betting) are available online. However, many overseas websites, such as – based in the UK – offer online betting in New Zealand. New Zealand law does not allow companies and residents here to offer in-play betting, casino games, pokies (slots), housie (bingo), and online poker.
The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs is responsible for overseeing gambling activities and making sure everyone plays by the rules. While individuals that violate the Gambling Act have no guarantees of getting away scot free, the Act overall does not primarily target individual players like you and me – it focuses on regulating operators. Land-based casinos are closely supervised to ensure integrity, fairness, consumer protection and that they do not cross any red lines. That means you can enjoy all the top casino games, such as keno, craps, poker, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, keno, and slots (pokies), any time you want. Section 22 defines Class 2 Gambling, which is mostly for organizations, charities, and www.qld.gov.au certain businesses. This duty is 12% on gross betting revenue, in addition to the existing GST (approximately 13%), bringing the total tax burden to 25% for offshore gaming operators.