Currently, it’s illegal for overseas gambling companies to operate or advertise here, but people in New Zealand can still access their websites. The Bill aims to change that by creating a system to license, tax, and regulate online casinos – but it also risks expanding gambling harm in our communities.
What the Bill would do
If passed, the Bill would allow:
- Up to 15 licensed online casinos to operate legally in Aotearoa
- People aged 18 years and over to gamble online (physical casinos still have an age limit of 20)
- Operators to verify users’ identities and include some harm-minimisation tools
- Advertising of licensed online casinos under “controlled conditions”
- Fines and blocking powers for illegal offshore sites
In short, it would turn something that’s currently unregulated and technically illegal into a legally approved gambling industry – available 24/7 and accessible from any phone.
Why it matters
Online casinos are among the most addictive forms of gambling because they’re designed for constant play and instant spending.
For Māori, Pasifika, and low-income communities – who already carry the greatest burden of gambling harm – this Bill could make things worse, not better.
Hāpai Te Hauora opposes the Online Casino Gambling Bill
It prioritises industry profit over community wellbeing, relies on the failed idea of “responsible gambling”, and fails to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
As part of this process, Hāpai:
- Opened an online submission template builder to make it easy for whānau, hapori, and community organisations to have their say
- Delivered an oral submission to the Governance and Administration Committee outlining opposition to the Bill
- Heard from people across Aotearoa who used the submission templates to share their own experiences and concerns
Many echoed the same themes – that harm prevention must come before profit, that Māori voices must lead, and that the expansion of gambling is not what our communities want or need.
If the Bill proceeds despite widespread opposition, it must include:
- Stronger limits on licences and advertising
- A minimum gambling age of 20
- Mandatory spending and time caps
- Māori governance and harm-reduction strategies
- A national digital self-exclusion system
What happens next
Public submissions on the Bill closed on 17 August 2025. The Select Committee will now review submissions and make recommendations in a report, which is due 17 November 2025, before it goes back to Parliament for further readings.
Hāpai Te Hauora will continue to monitor the Bill and advocate for harm prevention and Māori-led solutions at every stage.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill could reshape how gambling operates in Aotearoa – but at a serious cost. Legalising and licensing online casinos risks normalising one of the most harmful forms of gambling.
Equity-focused, Te Tiriti-driven reform is the only way forward. Communities want less harm, not more profit for the gambling industry.
