Summary of submissions report from public consultation Work is underway to develop a safe, regulated online gambling system for New Zealand that keeps people safe, allows only trusted providers to participate in the market, and contributes to the community. We need to update our laws for today’s digital world and future proof them as much as possible. In addition, unlike domestic gambling, offshore online gambling provides little to no return to New Zealand communities. Offshore gambling websites may not be regulated at all and have no harm minimisation mechanisms in place to protect players.
Today, while it is illegal for online gambling to be provided domestically, except by authorised providers (Lotto NZ and the TAB), it is legal for New Zealanders to gamble on offshore websites. Law makers couldn’t have foreseen the way that gambling would develop online 17 years on. Back then internet technology was still developing.
The Department is conducting a review into online gambling in New Zealand.
Review of Online Gambling in New Zealand Background