New Zealand has an excellent policy when it comes to gambling. There are a total of 6 casinos on the island, spread in multiple cities. These gambling facilities are a big factor for the country’s economy by paying millions in taxes each year.
People in New Zealand love gambling. When it comes to this topic, laws in New Zealand are a bit complicated and somewhat repressive. If you plan on opening a brand new casino, for example, there is a process that you must complete. Nevertheless, it is still legal. So, what are some of the games that the people of the country love to play the most?
Lottery
The lottery is the world’s number 1 game when it comes to betting. The lotteries in New Zealand are controlled by the government. In New Zealand, they are drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The most popular lottery in the country is the Lotto game, which was introduced back in 1987. Prizes can be as high as NZ$3 million.
The profits made from lottery are controlled by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. They are a business unite which distribute the money from the state lotteries to various charity foundations. In other words, they are giving the money back to the community. The country has a couple of other lottery games, like The Powerball, Keno, and Bullseye. All winnings from the aforementioned games are not taxed in New Zealand.
Horse Racing
There are two forms of horse racing in New Zealand – Thoroughbred and Standardbred (harness). Thoroughbred horses are labelled as hot-blooded and are best known for their speed and agility. They are also known as purebred horses. It is interesting to mention that in the period between 1882-2009, Thoroughbred horses from New Zealand have won 40 Melbourne Cups.
Standardbred horses or more commonly known as trotting dates back to the mid-1800s. The most popular trotting race in the country today is the New Zealand Trotting Cup. They also have the New Zealand Derby, the Auckland Trotting Cup, as well as the New Zealand Messenger Championship.
Slot Machines
No casino can run without slot machines. Why? Because they are simple to play, the cost is low, and have excellent rewards. All you have to do is press a button and wait for the perfect combinations to pop up on the screen. The slot machines were firstly introduced in New Zealand in 1987. Residents call them pokies. By law, all slot machines in the country must have a Player Information Display, which gives the player info on how long they have been playing on a certain pokie and how much he or she has lost.
Slots are operated by charitable foundations and they are mostly found in hotels in bars. Approximately 80% of all turnover from slots is usually returned as prizes. Statistics that date back from 2008 showed that out of the $10 billion that was made in turnover, $9.1 billion was returned in the form of prizes. Trust us when we say this, prizes from the lottery can be enormous sometimes.
