Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden stated that the government has agreed to a high-level approach for online casino regulation. This approach aims to minimise harm, support tax collection, and provide consumer protections for New Zealanders.
Van Velden explained that there will be a licensing system for online casinos. Operators must comply with specific criteria before offering services to New Zealanders. It will be illegal for unlicensed operators to provide services.
“We regulate most forms of gambling domestically through licensing. This regulation is not intended to increase gambling but to ensure operators meet consumer protection and harm minimization requirements, as well as paying taxes,” Van Velden said.
The government will allocate a limited number of licenses via auction, each lasting three years and conditional on me..