Online Casino Regulation In New Zealand

Are you a betting fan and now looking to explore the world of online casinos in New Zealand? Humans have been gambling for as long as our species have existed. Gambling, especially at an online casino in New Zealand, is fun and can be very rewarding, too (especially when good fortune smiles on you).

Regulations for Online Casino in New Zealand

Betting is great and fun but it can be frustrating when operators provide substandard service, and for this reason, the New Zealand government regulates this industry.

Three main regulatory bodies are given the responsibility to control online casinos in New Zealand, and they are; The Gambling commission, which is saddled with the task of issuing licenses to casino operators within the country, the Department of Internal Affairs, which monitors compliance with legislation and ensures there is proper education of the populace regarding gambling. Lastly, the ministry of Health monitors gambling-related problems and comes up with suggestions to reduce them.

Casino Laws in New Zealand

Over the years, there have been different laws created to regulate online casinos in New Zealand. The first attempt to regulate gambling in New Zealand started with the gaming and lotteries act that was enacted in 1977 to the very comprehensive Gambling Act of 2003, which have seen two amendments in 2005 and 2015, respectively.

Every online casino in New Zealand is expected to be compliant with the Amended Gambling Act of 2015 before they can be issued a valid license for operation in the country.

Gambling Acts 2003

Online casinos in New Zealand are regulated under this Act. The Act classifies gambling into four separate classes. Games are classified based on the prize to be won or turned over to be accrued.

For Class 1 gambling, the law does not require the organizers to obtain any type of license, and the games that fall under this class are those where the total turnover and cash prize to be won is below NZD500.

Similarly, Class 2 games also do not require the organizers to obtain any license, but in this case, the prize to be won exceeds NZD500 but is below NZD5000. Also, for class 2 games, the total turnover must exceed NZD500 but be below NZD25000.

On the other hand, Class 3 games require the game organizers to obtain a proper license from the Department of Internal Affairs, and the games that fall under this category are those where one gambling session exceeds NZD5000. Online casinos in New Zealand typically fall within Class 1-3

Every other machine gambling played outside a brick and mortar casino is classified under class 4. The organizers are required by the law to obtain an appropriate license before they can operate. These are usually high-risk betting areas like pubs and other public places, thus requiring the highest level of regulation.

Commission and Remuneration

The Gaming act of 2003 prohibits the charging of commission by game organizers for class 1 and 2 gaming. In the same vein, no remuneration should be given to the game organizer.

Prohibited Prizes

The 2003 Gaming Act of New Zealand prohibits items like tobacco products, firearms, and alcohol as gambling prizes. The list of items has since been updated to include more contraband products in the 2005 Amendment of the Gaming Act of 2003. Since Online casino in New Zealand only gives cash prizes, they are not likely to default under this rule.

Game Rules

The Gaming Act of 2003, which also guides online casinos in New Zealand, mandates game organizers to abide by the rules guiding each game.

There are specific rules guiding instant games, lotteries, games of chance, and prize competitions. For example, there are general rules guiding instant games, but instant games in class 3 would have more rules than instant games in class 1. Every online casino in New Zealand is required to abide by the rules guiding each game they offer.

Responsible Gaming

Making a habit of online gambling takes away every fun from it. Online casinos in New Zealand are required to place a strong emphasis on responsible gaming and provide avenues for players to seek help by connecting them to agencies such as Gambling Helpline NZ and Problem Gaming foundation.

Conclusion

The gaming law guiding operations of Online casinos in New Zealand is the Gaming Act of 2003 and the subsequent amendments. Whether you’re playing in a brick or online casino in New Zealand, it is paramount that you follow the rules and bet responsibly.