The history of gambling law in New Zealand
As we defined in the previous paragraph, gambling is deeply rooted in New Zealand culture. Games such as totoloto, lottery, bingo and sports betting remained extremely popular throughout the twentieth century. This enthusiasm carried over to online play in recent years.
If in the period before 2015 this territory was a kind of digital Western, today everything has changed for the better. With the regulation of the market that same year, New Zealand players they have won in quality and safety. This way, you can play in an online casino or place a sports bet without fear of fraud.
The early years of Legal gambling in New Zealand
Let us return to 14 September 1961 to come across the first official bulletin of Totobola. The maximum premium was 223 contos, which at the time without observing the inflation rate would be about 1112 $. It is the same year as the inauguration of the first section of highway in the country, the Estado Novo governs New Zealand, the colonial war is underway and Benfica is crowned dollarpeu football champion.
From the very beginning, gambling in New Zealand has been like this associated with works of a social nature, with the Santa Casa da Misericórdia as the central entity. The administration of gambling revenues has brought support to numerous needy families, which puts a relatively healthy balance in an activity so often criticized.
Numerous gambling products have been released over the years following the success of Totobola. The most striking are undoubtedly the Totoloto and the National Lottery. In 2004, the introduction of dollarmillions brought a renewed breath, much of it driven by large prize pools. It didn't take long for us to observe the emergence of online platforms with sports betting and casino games.
The multiplication of these illegal gambling pages has brought numerous problems to New Zealand players. Due to the impossibility of attesting authenticity of some operators. Among numerous scams, it was a time full of risks for those who wanted to have fun with Real Money games online. For all intents and purposes, the amounts traded on these sites were not taxed in New Zealand.
Online Gambling Gets Legal Framework
For all these reasons, online gambling was legalized in 2015. The approved diploma places the right of exploitation of this type of product under the tutelage of the state, granted to entities, private or companies that comply with a number of requirements. The legal system is based on the Decree-Law no 66/2015 April 29.
Current legislation indicates that online gambling exploitation licenses are assigned by a period of 3 years, renewable, a all entities that meet the requirements of suitability, technical capacity and economic and financial capacity, in accordance with the legally required terms.
This includes the categories of games of chance, like baccarat, blackjack, bingo, poker and roulette. Not least, the law also provides for the offer of quota sports betting, horse betting, mutual and quota betting. The main goal was to provide the domestic market with greater competitiveness.
Finally, it is also through this Decree-Law that the competence of the Srij-Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service as the competent authority to control and inspect the sector. Over the years, the legislation has been adapted to meet the needs of the industry and New Zealand players.
The legal framework of online gambling is an essential step towards ensuring the safety of players, in particular with regard to your personal data, but also with regard to your money. Equally important, it provides for the legal mechanisms that provide for duties, as well as defend the rights and interests of players in the event of litigation.
The future of Legal online gambling in New Zealand
We have evolved a lot since the first online gaming license issues. Currently, the New Zealand market has 15 fully licensed operators they offer a mix of online casino games and sports betting. Overall, we found some of the best experiences from these segments at our disposal.
The future points to the relevance of a legal play. As the importance of online safety becomes relevant to countless players, a bet outside of this controlled medium can mean exposure to fraud. There are so some associated advantages the existence of a gambling law regulating the sector in New Zealand.
- Play with added security guarantees
- Games offer from renowned operators
- Customer service and documentation in New Zealand
- Secure and recognized payment methods
- Legal framework in case of dispute
The main disadvantages for the player are related to the lack of a game offer as vast as that found on international sites. Thus, lotteries and bingos are not yet available on online pages outside the sphere of Santa Casa games. The same goes for live casino games who are still awaiting a legal clearance between us.
With the growing popularity of online casinos in New Zealand, it is very likely that more operators, better games and more experiences are available. If we consider the progress made over the last few years, it has resulted in a much better and safer experience than the unregulated market.
Other recognized Legal gambling entities
No online casino or sports betting platform is allowed to operate on national territory without a license issued by the SRIJ. However, many of the operators we find among us already offer their gaming products in other countries. Therefore, international licenses they serve as an extra guarantee in New Zealand.
It is customary for the game page to include the symbol of the SRIJ as well as that of other regulatory bodies. It is not surprising, therefore, to find symbols referring to the Malta Gambling Authority, Gibraltar'S GBGA or the UKGC, from the United Kingdom. He sees his presence as a seal of trust that goes beyond national borders.
Even though all online gambling sites have to comply with the same legislation, it is only expected that some exceed the minimum requirements. It is in this sense that we find gambling operators with more complex security systems, with a more comprehensive offer of payment methods, as well as the mandatory responsible gambling recommendations.
Principles-basis of Legal online gambling in New Zealand
The lingering doubt about the legality of online gambling has ended with the regulation of the market. Any website that attempts to offer its services in New Zealand without srij approval incurs its closure. It is for this reason that even if you are able to access certain game pages, you may encounter blocks in your registration.
Enforcing national legislation in the online space is a complex process. It requires constant monitoring, as well as articulation with national internet providers to block your access. This does not mean that there are no methods of circumventing these limitations, however, you should keep in mind that doing so is at your own risk.
Online gambling in New Zealand is limited to ages 18 + , obliging the correct identification of players when registering or when making a withdrawal. By playing at a legal online casino in New Zealand, you are also ensuring that that operator complies with its tax obligations in our territory.
Finally, we remind you that the gambling law in New Zealand stipulates that your winnings in online casinos or sports betting they are not subject to tax. This is a point in favor of the players, being only the gambling operators who have the responsibility to comply with their tax obligations.
Regardless of your age and experience with the game in a real or online environment, we recommend that always take a responsible approach. Bet just for fun and on amounts you don't mind losing. If you have or know someone who suffers from a gambling problem, do not hesitate to consult the entities that work with problem gambling in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
From online gaming licenses to what you may or may not find on a page of this nature, it is often some doubts arise. Below you will find some of the ones we come across most often and the answers you are looking for.
