New Zealand Authorities Seek Public Opinion on Online Gambling

New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is asking the public for their opinion regarding the potential expansion of online gambling in the country.

Earlier this week, the department launched a consultation on the matter at hand that will be available on the website of the department until September 30th. The citizens interested will be able to fill out a submission form, outlining their feelings and thoughts on how online gambling should be regulated in case the government chooses to go forward with online gambling.

The current Gambling Act in the country was formed in 2003 and officials are looking to update the Act as it may no longer be relevant because the Internet was not what it is now and law makers could not have foreseen the way that gambling would develop in 16 years.

Technology Development and Future-proofing the System

Due to the pace that technology is developing at nowadays, the officials feel that the current New Zealand regulations may not be sufficient in properly protecting players from risks associated with online gambling. The consultation, available on the DIA government website says: “We need to update our laws for today’s digital world and future-proof them as much as possible.”

“Do you think New Zealanders should be prohibited or restricted from accessing online gambling websites and applications that are not licensed under the New Zealand regime?”

This is one of the most specific questions that could have notable repercussions on the gambling industry if the majority of the submissions yield a positive answer. The consultation’s submission form asks New Zealanders server questions, mostly regarding harm reduction and the scope of growth the government should consider.

The majority of New Zealand gambling sites available to players are licensed abroad. Changing to rules would largely limit access to many online platforms but would also give the DIA the ability to enact safer regulations via locally managed platforms. This will also channel the estimated NZ$2 million that gamblers spend monthly back into local businesses rather than out of the country. In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Internal Affairs Minister, Tracey Martin, expressed her shock on the sum: “This is big money coming out of New Zealand and we don’t know where those gamblers are or if they can afford to do so.”

The DIA has no intent to cripple the online gambling industry in NZ but to simply ensure that there are sufficient regulations in place that will protect citizens.

Exponential Growth of the Industry

The global online gambling industry has grown exponentially in the past ten years which led to a sharp rise in platform numbers and ways to play. Earlier this year, SkyCity, a local casino operator announced plans to launch its own online platform and the DIA started looking into stricter regulation. There are many gambling directory sites that aim to offer comprehensive lists of reputable platforms. These sites help give players an idea of which sites are the safest or preferable to play at. With largely unregulated growth happening, they are very helpful.

The Gambling Commission of NZ, an independent body formed under the 2003 Gambling Act, regulates the industry and offers impartial investigations into legal issues related to licensing.

Source:

“New Zealand Internal Affairs Seeks Public Opinion on Online Gambling”, George Miller, europeangaming.eu, August 5, 2019.