The Online Casino Bill, aimed at legalizing and regulating online gaming, has passed its first reading in the New Zealand Parliament. Earlier, the government confirmed that the purpose of the bill is to protect players by introducing safety mechanisms into the currently unregulated online gambling market in the country.
“Currently, New Zealanders can legally access thousands of offshore gambling websites. But the market is unregulated, so there are no player safety standards or oversight of harm minimization,” said Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.
“My intention with this Bill is to ensure that online gambling is safer for New Zealanders who wish to gamble online to do so. In addition, that companies providing this service contribute to tax revenue and funding the services that treat gambling harm in New Zealand.”
The law provides for the issuance of up to 15 online gaming licenses, which will be auctioned. Companies seeking a license will be required to meet strict criteria, including having a strategy for harm prevention and providing information on their compliance history.
Oversight of the new regulatory system will be carried out by the Department of Internal Affairs, with all costs covered through license fees from operators. Companies that violate the rules may face fines of up to 5 million New Zealand dollars.
License applicants must also have an age verification system in place to prevent access by persons under the age of 18, contribute 1.24% of their profits to the Problem Gambling Levy (which funds addiction support services), and comply with strict advertising restrictions – including a ban on advertising to minors.
“The most important part of this Bill is protecting New Zealanders who enjoy gambling online by introducing robust safety measures for licensed operators,” van Velden stated.
“The Bill will now proceed to select committee, and I would encourage interested New Zealanders to have their say when public submissions open.”
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