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New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill has edged closer to its completion with the legislation passing through the government’s Select Committee.

The Governance and Administration Committee took into account more than 5,000 public submissions when considering potential adjustments to the bill. These submissions were made earlier this year from individuals and organisations, in addition to oral evidence.

Several changes to the proposed legislation have been recommended through the committee’s report, including 3,966 submissions raising concerns about community returns from gambling revenue.

Changes to the bill’s implementation have also been pitched by the committee, including when legislation will begin and when the market will only be available to operators that have a licence.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, welcomed the committee’s report on the bill, marking it as a “crucial step forward” to protect New Zealanders from gambling harm.

Community funds

To provide community funding returns, offshore gambling duty will rise in the bill from 12% to 16%, with this 4% increase ringfenced for community returns. It is estimated that community returns could reach between NZ $10m and NZ $20m in the first year (approximately €4.9m to €9.9m).

However, this is dependent on how much total gross gambling revenue the licensed online casino market generates. The Lottery Grants Board will be responsible for the community funding distribution.

“Many groups were concerned that more gambling online would mean less gambling on pokie machines, and therefore a decrease to the level of funding returning to community groups,” noted van Velden.

“Submissions clearly showed New Zealanders want community returns from online gambling activity to ensure communities continue to get the funding they need. Cabinet agreed to provide these returns, and the committee supported that decision.”

Other concerns raised within the submissions for the report included that online casinos’ regulation could result in the normalisation of gambling and a greater potential for gambling harm, as well as potential gambling harm from advertising.

Van Velden stated that the concerns have been accounted for, adding that the bill will put regulations in place with the intention to reduce harm, “a significant improvement from the status quo where there are no safeguards to protect Kiwis gambling online”.

“We will review online casino gambling’s impact on pokies revenue after two years to ensure that community returns are still providing adequate funding for community and sports groups,” she added.

“This is an important piece of legislation that will bring online casino gambling under New Zealand law for the first time. I look forward to seeing it progress through the House,” says Ms van Velden.

Timeline updates

The Select Committee report’s recommendations also included changes to the timeline of the legislation’s implementation.

From earlier this week, we already know that the date of 1 December 2026 is now in the diaries of all stakeholders interested in the New Zealand market, as this is the date when online casino licences will start.

Other dates that have been added to the calendar include 1 May 2026, which will be when legislation begins, including a total prohibition on online casino advertising. Any operator currently providing an offering in New Zealand may continue doing so until 1 December.

At which point, only operators that have applied for a licence will be allowed to continue to operate, with all other operators forced to exit the market. Operators will be able to advertise under strict rules once they are licensed.

The final date to remember is 1 June 2027, as only operators who hold a licence will be allowed to operate in the New Zealand online casino market after this date.

New Zealand’s government is expected to deliver another update on the legislation later this month, as the Online Gambling Implementation team is now working on how the bill’s implementation will be impacted by the new proposed timeline.

The countdown has officially begun for New Zealand’s online casino market, as a date has been set for when the country plans to launch its online casino licences.

New Zealand government’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Brooke van Velden, has released the cabinet paper and associated materials for the online casino gambling bill, which has been in motion since being introduced to parliament in June.

Other important updates were contained within the release for interested parties to take into account, but the date of 1 December 2026 will now be added to the diary of all stakeholders as the date for when online casino licences will start.

The wheels are now speeding up for New Zealand’s online casino market, as the government also stated in an email update that detailed regulations for licence holders are expected to be finalised by mid-2026.

“It is our intention to give the sector time with these finalised regulations before running the licensing process,” said Trina Lowry, Programme Director – Online Gambling Implementation, in an email update.

Draft regulations that have recently been issued to the cabinet for approval include areas covering harm prevention and minimisation, consumer protection and record-keeping, advertising and marketing, as well as fees, levies, or charges for cost recovery.

Lowry added that the government hopes to provide another update with detailed information on the regulatory decisions taken before the end of the month.

Community funding changes

Community funding returns have also been introduced in the bill, with offshore gambling duty rising from 12% to 16%, with this 4% increase ringfenced for community returns.

As a result, it is estimated that community returns could reach between NZ $10m and NZ $20m in the first year (approximately €4.9m to €9.9m), although this is dependent on how much total gross gambling revenue the licensed online casino market generates.

New Zealand’s government noted that the community return option “does not seek to replicate the not-for-profit Class 4 model” and that the most relevant comparison would be to land-based casinos in the country since they are for-profit entities, in comparison to Class 4 or Lotto, whose profits must be used to benefit communities.

Sri Lanka sits on the cusp of a new regulatory framework that is likely to usher in widespread changes for the country’s gambling sector.

The country’s government confirmed that the Gambling Regulatory Authority remit to oversee all gaming operations will begin on 1 December.

The date will mark the culmination of an extensive process after Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a draft bill in February 2025 before it was officially presented to parliament in June – but how will it actually evolve the country’s gambling ecosystem – remains to be seen.

Time for change

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill moves to unify Sri Lanka’s currently fragmented gaming landscape and repeal the Gambling Ordinance, Casino Ordinance and Horse Racing Betting Ordinance.

Supporters of the change point to the outdated nature of the current legislation. The Gambling Ordinance was drafted in 1887 while the laws relating to casinos and horse racing betting were implemented in 1988.

By moving to close loopholes and clarify overlapping regulation, the Sri Lankan Government hopes to “promote tourism, employment and economic development through the regulated operation of gambling activities”, alongside improving tax collection and fighting against the undercurrent of Sri Lanka’s black market while encouraging iGaming expansion.

The new regulator will function “as the sole independent regulator with a broad and overarching scope on operations in the gambling industry”, including online gaming and offshore gambling activities on ships in the port city of Colombo.

This includes issuing and renewing gaming licences, enforcing the guidelines associated with the licence and collecting tax revene.

As of yet, no Director-General or Chairperson has been named for the regulator. The board will be made up of the Secreatry of the Ministry of Finance, Commissioner General of Indland Revenue, Head of the Financial Intelligence United and the Inspector General of the Police.

Three extra members of the board with knowledge of gambling regulation will be appointed by the Finance Minsiter, one of which will then be appointed as Chair. The board will also select the regulator’s Director-General.

Anyone found offering, promoting or taking part in unlicensed gambling may be fined, sentenced to up to two years in prison, or both.

A new Macau?

Sri Lanka is already home to seven casinos, and one of the country’s latest additions has high hopes to turn the nation into a destination for gaming for its neighbours.

Upon the opening of the $1.2bn City of Dreams Sri Lanka project, Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s Chair, Lawrence Ho, set out his aspiration that “Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China”.

“Macau is by far the biggest gaming market in the world. Colombo is the closest destination to India, and an integrated resort like this gives the city a lot of potential,” he told local media.

Macau’s gross gaming revenue topped $28.35bn, so even emulating this on a much smaller scale would represent a sharp financial boost for a country that is still looking to bounce back from an economic crisis that triggered a bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2023.

Although Ho cited neighbouring India as a key target market, Sri Lanka may also hope to garner visitors from Thailand, where efforts to implement casino regulation hit a legislative brick wall due to significant political turmoil.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has stated that self-exclusion leads to improvement in quality of life, but it remains to be seen whether the figures carry the needed weight for a wider impact.

Results were showcased in an ACMA-commissioned report conducted by market research firm ORIMA between May and June, from a pool of 381 participants. Given that 12,876 participants were invited, the final sample size represented a 3% response rate.

Responses were taken from users who evaluated their experience with Australia’s national self-exclusion register BetStop. Results showed that four in five people (77%) who self-excluded themselves from online and phone wagering for a period of time witnessed an improvement in their overall quality of life.

A total of 79% of those 381 said they’ve experienced improved mental health, while 69% of the whole pool reported better relationships with friends, family, and partners.

What’s more, 81% of all surveyed said they’ve completely stopped betting on sports or racing events, while 15% reported a decrease in their betting activity after self-exclusion.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, said: “We know online gambling causes a great deal of harm for too many in our communities. It is wonderful to see that the national self-exclusion register is having a positive impact. The stories shared with us are both moving and compelling.

“We want to make sure everyone who uses phone or internet gambling in Australia is aware of their options for self-exclusion. It only takes five minutes to register, and this could change your life.”

BetStop has been operated by Dataworks Group on behalf of the ACMA since the register’s launch in August 2023. Under Australian law, the register became the subject of a statutory review after 12 months of operations, which is still ongoing.

The ACMA believes that the results will help inform the review in question, but again – whilst self-exclusion is in fact proven to help those suffering from problem gambling, it remains to be seen whether the report itself will have a significant impact on the review given its small sample size.

Tie-in with wider Australian reforms
There is currently another ongoing debate around gambling on the highest political level, quite fierce at that. It revolves around the implementation of the Murphy report – a series of recommendations laid out by the late Peta Murphy in a multi-party parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm.

Whilst the BetStop statutory review is a separate matter, it is entirely possible that the actions of current Australian PM Anthony Albanese’s cabinet in regards to the Murphy report will also reverberate over to the self-exclusion registry.

As there’s currently no single national gambling regulator in Australia – gambling matters are usually handled either by the ACMA for media complaints/violations and AUSTRAC for anti-money laundering obligations, the Murphy report supported the creation of a national body to end the fragmented governance of Australian gambling, spread across six territorial states.

Within its 31 recommendations, the report suggested the creation of a single national regulator that would supervise all gambling-related licensing, advertising, data collection, penalty enforcement and harm prevention initiatives such as BetStop.

Research, treatment and education funding has also been touched upon in the report, with Murphy suggesting a levy for online wagering service providers that would secure a constant finance stream for gambling harm infrastructure – potentially supporting BetStop’s operations as well.

Albanese himself has recently found himself under significant pressure by the opposition, which has accused him of delaying the report’s implementation in the interest of the gambling sector.

New Zealand is taking a ring fenced approach to its gambling framework as it looks to level the playing field between offshore and domestic operators.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden laid out that offshore gambling duty is set to rise from 12% to 16%, with that extra 4% ring fenced to fund community and grassroots sports funding.

Announcing the decision, van Velden emphasised: “While I am confident the regulated online casino market will provide new community funding opportunities for New Zealand sports clubs and community organisations, I do acknowledge that predicting the exact impact on existing Class 4 [pokies] returns creates some uncertainty.

“Cabinet has agreed on a two-year review after implementation of the community returns policy to assess the impact of online casino gambling on other forms of gambling and community returns.”

She added: “The message from communities was loud and clear – if we’re regulating online gambling, they want to see benefits flow back to local sports clubs, community groups and grassroots organisations.

“I have listened, and now as a government, we are delivering on what matters most to communities across the country.”

“Problem gambling prevention and harm minimisation standards are non-negotiable and unchanged. Protecting Kiwis from gambling harm is still my number one objective.

“Community funding will not compromise this government’s commitment to reducing gambling harm.”

Rallying against proliferation

Van Velden has long spearheaded the campaign to safeguard against the proliferation of gambling operators in New Zealand, implementing regulation to ensure that a maximum of 15 licences can be issued in the country.

The increase comes at a vital time for the industry as it approaches the two year mark of regulation, which means an examination of the sector’s performance and structure will take place.

There has also been pressure around the impact of gambling within local communities and the economy as questions are raised over the prevalence of offshore gambling operators in the country.

Commenting on the upcoming review, van Velden said: “This evidence-based review will inform necessary adjustments allowing us to make informed policy decisions based on real-world data in future.

The Minister added: “This is new money on top of existing funding from pokies, Lotto, and TAB. We’re not taking anything away – we’re adding to what’s already there.

The Bill addresses a critical gap in New Zealand’s regulatory framework.

“Right now, Kiwis are gambling on thousands of overseas websites with no safety nets, no spending limits, and no recourse when things go wrong. That’s unacceptable.

“This Bill brings those operators under New Zealand law, with proper consumer protections, harm minimisation measures, and now – community benefits.”

The ring fencing approach to gambling taxation has been taken up in other markets, with government’s aiming to ensure that state revenue from the gambling industry goes to the right places.

It’s a particularly common theme in Australia. However, the New Zealand model appears more defined and purposeful than the model adopted in Australian states.

This may indicate that the New Zealand government is looking to alter the framework for offshore gambling operators, and enable the domestic TAB betting operator, managed by Entain under a 25 year contract, to thrive.

Closing off the market to offshore firms would also enable New Zealand’s domestic casino space, both incumbents like Sky City and potential new market entrants under the planned 15 licence framework, to better compete.

A different ring fencing strategy proposed in the UK

The idea of ring fencing was also touted as a potential solution tackling high risk gaming engagement in the UK during a Select Committee hearing this week.

This idea was met with disdain, understandably, from the UK trade body, the Betting and Gaming Council. MPs seem in favour, however, with Treasury Select Committee member Dame Meg Hillier the MP stating: “In other industries you can have ring fencing of different types of activity.

“Is that something you have considered at the Betting and Gaming Council, so that you can have online treatment in one way, even though the businesses operate as one? Would you consider ring fencing so that you are taxing things on different bases?”

The BGC’s CEO, Grainne Hurst, fired back with: “I think that would be difficult for operators to do. Obviously, they will be reinvesting some of their profits back into particular areas of the business where they think it is needed. If they were to ring fence particular elements of their offering, that would be quite difficult and would probably lead to a reduction.”

Vietnam could be shifting towards a new approach to gambling regulation as local media reports suggest two land based casinos could be set to open to local players.

Frameworks are strict when it comes to limitations on local residents gambling. Currently, casinos, online betting and sports betting remain illegal for Vietnamese citizens.

However, there have been pilot programs launched that are enabling locals to gamble in these venues, with these pilot programs being expanded for a further five years.

The Grand Ho Tram and Van Don Integrated Resort are the two resorts at the centre of the pilot program’s expansion.

In order to ensure the financial viability of each entrant, the Ministry of Finance has put forward entry fees of VND 2.5 million (approximately $100 USD) for each 24-hour period of casino access, as well as VND 50 million (approximately $2,000 USD) for a monthly pass.

The pilot expansion will require final sign off from Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chính and the country’s Minister of Finance.

This is a similar approach taken to that of Singapore, a framework that by many is considered the gold standard in Asia.

It marks the continued evolution of the country’s decree on gambling, with it also ensuring that, in order to strengthen the links of firms in the country, with local laws and market development, foreign online game suppliers must have a presence in the region.

There are also stringent age verification and surveillance frameworks placed upon casinos at the centre of the pilot program expansion.

Vietnam’s Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc was previously utilised as part of the trial for enabling local residents to gamble. Whilst results for this trial were significantly limited by COVID, it is reported that the resort could be enabled to take on the permanent inclusion of local players.

This is a move that further underpins that evolution of the gambling framework and the country’s shifting stance when it comes to casinos.

Kuwait officials have reportedly eradicated a network that allegedly facilitated online gambling and enabled the illicit transfer of profits abroad.

According to investigations, the network was at the heart of significant money laundering operations, which utilised a myriad of avenues to transfer funds.

First reported by the Kuwait Times, trading outlets, delivery services, health salons and perfume shops were all avenues tapped into by the network to siphon money out of the network.

The site also reported that the busting of the lucrative network led to the seizure of funds totalling around KD 153,837 (£373,805), whilst funds transferred from abroad via unofficial channels totalled KD 25,000 (£60,750)

The Ministry of Interior has underpinned that the arrests and referrals to public prosecution are part of its much wider strategy to tackle illicit gambling.

Key figures from the network were reportedly based in Turkey, with a statement from officials emphasising that there is nobody above the law in terms of tackling gambling.

Laws are incredibly strict in Kuwait when it comes to gambling, with the activity being prohibited and any engagement resulting in fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, money laundering any profits from the business can also result in significant sanctions from the Government.

The only previous efforts for the legalisation of the gambling industry in Kuwait dwindled before they gained real momentum in 2014.

Politician Waleed Al-Nasser proposed the plans to boost the economy and diversify the tourism sector in Kuwait, but they were met with vehement opposition.

Since then, the Middle East has transformed in many ways, as a cultural shift has been undertaken in the United Arab Emirates.

This has included the gradual expansion of its gambling regulation, which included the formation of the GCGRA, the federal body responsible for regulating all commercial gaming activities in the region.

Nonetheless, even with this expansion, operators and suppliers looking to move into the UAE have been warned that they should anticipate tough conditions.

In a recent interview with iGaming Expert, Lau Kok Keng, who was at the heart of shaping Singapore regulations, underlined that even at the early stages, there are key lessons for operators.

He stated: “The UAE is in the early stages of regulated gaming, and the legal and regulatory framework is still very much evolving. Operators looking to enter the UAE market should stay abreast of all legislative and policy updates, build relationships with government agencies, local partners, and community leaders to understand cultural sensitivities and regulatory expectations.

“The UAE is likely to adopt a highly regulated and tightly controlled model, with a strong emphasis on anti-money laundering, responsible gambling, and social safeguards. Operators must be prepared to meet stringent compliance standards.

“The UAE is also a conservative society with unique cultural and religious considerations. Marketing, product offerings, and customer engagement must be tailored accordingly. Any investment in the UAE market needs to be a long-term one, with investment in local talent, training and infrastructure necessary.”

The Malaysian government is set to take aim at meta over the prevalence of black market gambling ads that appear on the site, according to a report by The Scoop.

It comes ahead of a crunch meeting between the two parties over the advertising of black market operators across social media sites, specifically Facebook.

The meeting, which is set to take place on 22 September, arrives following a flurry of complaints from the government over the lack of action from Facebook around harmful advertising.

One of the central issues set to be raised by the government’s Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, is around the lack of action when it comes to blocking credit cards with known links to black market websites.

Speaking to reporters, he stated: “If a gambling ad is paid for using a credit card, and Facebook knows this content is illegal in Malaysia, they should block the credit card account used. But Facebook has refused to do so.”

“Many people benefit from these platforms socially and economically – but we cannot allow criminals to misuse them for profit or to commit online crimes.”

He also took aim at the platform over the accessibility of black market gambling adverts and just how prevalent they are.

Social trepidation across India

This issue is not isolated to Malaysia, a recent report by the All India Gaming Federation revealed the extent at which players in the country engage with the black market.

The report detailed that unlicensed betting platforms had a total of 1.6 billion visits over a three month period.

It was a report that specifically took aim at poor effectiveness of the current measures being in place when it comes to halting the black market – specifically pinpointing website blocking measures as not having the desired effect.

This partially comes down to illegal operators utilising mirroring websites to enable users to circumvent blocking regulatory takedowns and blocking protocols.

Central to this is the usage of new UPI accounts in order to evade detection from website blocking strategies.

The report cited RBI data from July 2024, which states that mules funnel around $300m in illicit funds every month, with the illicit gambling market being one of the most significant beneficiaries of these transactions.

It revealed that mules provide one of the key ways for the illicit market to evade regulatory and financial frameworks, an evasion they rely on to be sustainable.

Furthermore, there is also evidence, according to the report, that using blocking as the sole strategy when it comes to crippling the black market is simply ineffective. The report cited Norway, the UK, Denmark, Belgium, and the United States as markets that highlight this.

The network utilised by illegal operators was described by the report as “highly sophisticated”, engaging with a myriad of payment journeys and currencies – these include UPI transactions facilitated through mule accounts, cryptocurrencies, and international wallets.

In terms of traffic drivers to the illicit market, the report cited the significant impact of social media and influencer marketing, calling on strictness of advertising policies to be increased.

It detailed that over a three month period, social media drove 42.8 million visits to just four illegal sites, whilst referral traffic generated 247.5 million visits, primarily from adult sites, gambling affiliates and promotions on sports and video streaming platforms.

It specifically took aim at the Facebook advertising policy, which has grown monumentally in recent times.

iGaming Expert Analysis: The action of the Malaysian government could well usher in strengthening of strategies from across Asia when it comes to ensuring that social media giants do more to tackle the black market. We have already seen in India the impact of Instagram and Facebook when it comes to black market engagement. We have also seen the recent growth of TikTok when it comes to a platform that bolsters black market engagement.

The Malaysian government is clearly intent on ensuring that social media platforms do more and unsurprising given the funnel that social media can provide to the black market – here’s hoping that other governments will follow their lead on this one.

Amidst continued speculation about the future of online gaming in the Philippines, PAGCOR has underpinned the significant economic impact of the regulated sector.

PAGCOR Chair and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco emphasised that a significant amount of fees stems from licensing in the country.

Tengco stated: “Because of its huge potential, online gaming has become an important source of funds for our nation-building commitments, including PAGCOR’s support for education, health care, and community development.

“Every peso we collect from the gaming sector translates to meaningful projects such as classrooms for our children, health programs for our people, and safe spaces for communities in times of calamity. This is how we ensure that gaming directly benefits Filipinos.”

PAGCOR and President Marcos’ Government have been at loggerheads in recent months as the country sits on the cusp of a new era of gambling regulation.

Speculation over a total ban on the vertical has been rife, with local media reporting that a total of four bills, three resolutions and a privilege speech addressing the impact of the online gaming industry will be discussed by the Philippine Senate’s Committee on Games and Amusements.

PAGCOR is not only pointing to the economic impact of the regulated market as a key reason for the market not to be outlawed, but also the looming threat of the black market.

“These illegal sites not only deprive the government of much-needed revenues but also expose Filipino players to numerous risks,” Tengco noted.

The PAGCOR CEO underpinned enhanced enforcement against the illegal sector, emphasising its “commitment to strengthening regulation and enforcement to ensure that only legitimate and properly monitored operators are allowed to operate”.

Recent research revealed specific concerns over the continued offering of e-sabong, also known as cockfighting.

Central to the enticing of players to the black market was the allure of juiced-up bonuses of 108%, epitomising the hurdles faced by the regulated market when it comes to tackling engagement with illegal operators.

At the heart of the differentiation in marketing approaches is the affiliate strategy undertaken by both the regulated and the unregulated sectors.

The report revealed that many unregulated operators provide lucrative affiliate programs, sometimes offering 45–65% of gross gaming revenue to attract strong collaborations.

iGaming Expert Analysis: The news narrative tug of war shows no signs of slowing in the Philippines. As we hurtle towards legislative clarity PAGCOR will be doing all it can to underpin the threat of the black market, in a bid to avoid what it would depict as disastrous prohibition action from Marcos’ government.

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