Is Online Gambling Legal in New Zealand?
What is online gambling?
Online gambling is internet-based gambling, and the games include casinos, poker and sports betting. There are many varieties of online gambling, and all of them require the use of a mobile device or computer with an internet connection. It was first introduced in 1994. This form of betting is legal in some countries and illegal in others.
The games have become widely popular in recent years, and the main reason is that it is location-independent. You can access it no matter where you are and what time it is.
Gambling Sports Betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome. … Sports bettors place their wagers either legally, through a bookmaker/sportsbook, or illegally through privately run enterprises.
Is online gambling legal in New Zealand?
Online gamblers in New Zealand are wondering about the legality of web-based betting in this land because many important changes are taking place in nearby Australia. Online casino players here want to be sure that they are not going against any law.
The short answer to the question is: Yes. If you are living in New Zealand and participating in web-based casinos, you are not breaking any law.
How web-based gambling is regulated in New Zealand
The Department of Internal Affairs controls these operations here. The Act of 2003 is the main piece of relevant legislation. This is also the first law that addresses interactive betting here.
The law states that with limited exceptions, web-based interactive betting is banned in the country. The exceptions are made for the Racing Board and the Lotteries commission.
The new national regulatory framework was set out by the Government after the passing of the law in 2003. Another commission, which was founded in 2004, is the current regulatory body that regulates web-based operations.
Apart from monitoring these activities in the country, the commission deals with some other issues related to non-casino betting operators.
In 2004, there were some important amendments in the Gambling Act, and the changes significantly affected the environment. It limited casino operations to some extent. The act especially affected the operations of casinos. The control mechanism works by limiting casino-related activities.
What else you need to know about internet-based betting in this country
As we have already mentioned, the Act of 2003 officially prohibits web-based betting in the country. Some games and lotteries are strictly regulated. The activities of best online casinos, which require the use of communication devices, are classified as gambling.
The country has not fully banned remote interactive betting, and players can access different types of online casino games to some extent.
Many players can not play their favorite lottery games. This is partly because the New Zealand Lotteries Commission made some important changes in the law. Totalizator Agency Board now offers different types of lottery games over the internet. This entity is permitted to conduct these activities.
To make the long story short, there are many internet gamblers in the country because the Government allows the citizens to use foreign websites.
Conclusion
There are some restrictions and regulations, but online casinos are not strictly prohibited. Many people here enjoy online betting without violating the law.
It all comes down to the fact that the local players do not break the law when they use foreign websites. Numerous operators accept players from New Zealand and offer many different opportunities regarding web-based gambling.
