TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – New Zealand on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, proposed to limit the number of licenses for online casino gambling operators, require them to set up an age verification system, and ban advertisements aimed at children, as it looks to rein in the fast-growing sector. Online gambling has been rampant in New Zealand, and these tighter regulations are designed to curb its growth.
Those who violate these regulations will be fined up to NZ$25 million (Rp46 billion). New Zealand’s Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said that these new regulatory systems are expected to be in place from early 2026.
“My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can today,” van Velden said.
She said that currently, New Zealanders could gamble online on thousands of offshore gambling websites. Therefore, with the proposed regulatory system, New Zealanders could go to fifteen licensed operators.
Previously in July 2024, the New Zealand Government announced that it would set up licenses for online casinos, require operators to limit their offerings to online casino games, not sports betting or lottery products, and impose a minimum age of 18 for players.
Online gambling is currently not regulated in New Zealand so consumer protection requirements do not apply.
According to research firm Statista, more customers in New Zealand are opting to gamble online with the convenience and accessibility of online platforms and due to the increasing popularity of smartphones. Revenue from such platforms could see an annual growth of around 6% between 2024 and 2029, it said.
Van Velden said further regulations will be developed based on the existing gambling law that would help finalize rules on advertising and consumer protection requirements. The New Zealand government aims to introduce the bill in parliament next year.
REUTERS
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