Online Gambling Laws in New Zealand

New Zealand has one of the biggest gambling populations in the world. Despite being a small country with only 4.4 million inhabitants, New Zealand's residents spend billions of dollars on gambling every year. Playing land-based casino games is particularly popular, but online gambling has increased in popularity over the years.

Currently, New Zealand's gambling laws prohibit online gambling. Unlike many countries, the laws do not punish players for taking part in internet gambling activities; instead, online casino and online poker operators who provide their services to New Zealand residents are prosecuted for doing so. The advertisement of online casinos and online gambling brands is also prohibited in New Zealand. Fortunately, since the legislation has been passed, no operators have been reprimanded.

There are only two operators that are allowed to offer their services to New Zealand residents: TabCorp and the New Zealand Lottery Commission. TabCorp is one of the biggest land-based gambling operators in the country and has had a monopoly on the internet gaming market for years. The company's online gambling website has earned billions of dollars over the course of the past five years and shows no signs of slowing down. In 2011, TabCorp's online services brought in over $700 million in revenue. Following an incredibly successful foray into the online gaming world, the operator now has its eyes on the mobile gambling market.

The New Zealand Lottery Commission has just launched its own online gambling service, allowing customers to purchase their lottery tickets online. Players register to the site as they would at any other online casino, and they can fund their accounts using the credit cards or bank accounts. There is a $150/week or $300/month spending limit at the NZLC's website, and players can choose lower limits if they wish. The New Zealand Lottery Commission also offers online bingo and keno. Know more 안전공원

Although there are strict rules dictating which companies may and may not offer online casino services to players, it seems that New Zealand's government may be looking into the option of regulating offshore gambling websites. After witnessing the huge growth of offshore gambling websites and success that other countries have had in regulating the market, the government seems ready to follow suit. Earlier this year, the Inquiry into Interactive and Online Gambling was launched. The review may lead to an online gambling reform, which would see the legalization and regulation of offshore gambling in New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand is currently a burgeoning gambling market. Millions of residents take part in some form of gambling activity everyday, and the population of recreational gamblers has been growing rapidly over the course of the past few years. While the land-based gaming market is seeing a great deal of growth, so is the online casino market. However, the laws regulating online gambling in New Zealand can be quite complex, so here is a brief overview of legality of online gaming in the country

New Zealand's online gambling laws are regulated under the Gambling Act 2003, along with all other forms of gambling in the country. Up until 2003, online gambling was not regulated by any laws, so the legislation is still quite new and residents believe there are still some kinks to work out.

According to the Act, remote interactive gambling is prohibited. This applies only to gambling that is organized or conducted within New Zealand. Offshore operators can face fines for offering their services to residents of the country, but few have been prosecuted by local authorities. Some local online gambling operators are able to offer their services online, including TabCorp, a gaming operator which has a near-monopoly on gambling in Australia and New Zealand.

The advertisement of offshore online casinos is also prohibited. Therefore, gambling companies which are not based in New Zealand may not advertise their services to residents. This includes sports sponsorships and television commercials, as well as in-print and online advertisements.

Recognizing that New Zealanders are keen to take part in online gambling, the government has decided to allow some forms of online wagering to take place. It has recently been decided that players would be allowed to play the local lottery online. NZ Lotto has launched its own online gambling website, so that players can purchase all sorts of lottery products online. The website also offers online bingo and keno, adding to the range of choices that players have when it comes to gambling legally online. NZ Lotto's website is a huge step forward for the country's online gambling market; however, residents would still like to have more choice when it comes to playing casino games online.