Gambling is everywhere in Aotearoa, from Lotto tickets and pokies at the pub, to sports betting apps and flashy online casinos. But the rules around it are complicated, and many people are unsure what’s legal, who enforces the laws, and what changes might be coming. Here’s a breakdown of how it all works.
Why gambling laws matter
Gambling is a billion-dollar industry that delivers revenue to the government. But it does so at a cost: widespread harm, particularly for Māori, Pasifika, and low-income communities. For years, the industry has been allowed to expand under the guise of “choice” and “entertainment,” while the social costs such as debt, mental distress, job loss, and family breakdown are carried by whānau.
The laws that currently shape gambling in NZ
- Gambling Act 2003: The main law for gambling in New Zealand focuses on preventing harm and controlling growth. It covers casinos, pokies, Lotto, charity raffles, and parts of TAB betting.
- Racing Act 2003: Governs racing and sports betting. (Pokies in TABs and racing clubs are still covered by the Gambling Act.)
- Other regulations: Provide detailed rules for Class 4 gambling (pokies in pubs and clubs), Lotto, TAB betting, and community gaming.
Offshore online casinos can’t advertise or operate legally in New Zealand, but New Zealanders can still gamble on those websites. This creates big risks: no local taxes, no contributions back to the community, no guaranteed harm minimisation, and a higher likelihood of harm.
The main players
- Department of Internal Affairs (DIA): Regulates gambling, issues licences, and can fine people or businesses (including influencers) who promote illegal gambling to New Zealanders.
- TAB NZ & Lotto NZ: The main legal gambling operators in New Zealand.
Why it feels confusing
Different operators play by different rules. Lotto is state-run. TAB has a monopoly on sports betting. Pokies are spread across pubs and clubs. Offshore gambling is technically illegal but still easily accessible.
Meanwhile, overseas casinos often use influencers to advertise to New Zealanders. This is illegal but still happens. The reality is that digital loopholes keep harmful products just a few clicks away.
The future of gambling regulation and legislation in Aotearoa
The government is proposing to license offshore casinos through the Online Casino Gambling Bill. Framed as regulation, it will expand access to gambling and strengthen industry profits at the expense of public health.
Our concerns
- More platforms, more harm: Allowing up to 15 new casinos, available 24/7, will drive gambling harm, especially for Māori who already face disproportionate impacts.
- Targeting rangatahi: Setting the online age limit at 18 while physical casinos remain restricted to 20 puts young people at risk of addiction.
- Advertising as normalisation: Any promotion of online gambling makes it look safe and aspirational, particularly dangerous for rangatahi.
- Te Tiriti ignored: The Crown has a duty to protect Māori from preventable harm. This Bill repeats past breaches by failing to uphold that obligation.
Our stance
Hāpai Te Hauora opposes the Online Casino Gambling Bill in its entirety. It prioritises industry profit over community wellbeing, relies on the failed idea of “responsible gambling”, and ignores Te Tiriti.
What must change
We call for the Bill to be rejected. If it proceeds despite opposition, it must at least include:
- Centralised, mandatory spending and time limits across all platforms
- A significant reduction in the number of licences
- A minimum gambling age of 20
- Dedicated kaupapa Māori harm-prevention services, Māori governance in oversight, and culturally relevant strategies
- A nationwide digital self-exclusion system
The bottom line
New Zealand’s gambling laws are a patchwork of local and global rules that put whānau at risk. The gambling landscape is shifting fast, but the harms remain stubbornly persistent. Equity-focused, Te Tiriti-driven reform is the only way forward. Communities want less harm, not more profit for the gambling industry.
