Like in most countries, gambling is a widespread activity in New Zealand. New Zealanders spend millions of dollars on gambling each year – on everything from lotteries to horse racing and physical slot machines. All forms of offline gambling in New Zealand are regulated under the Gambling Act of 2003.
Gambling statistics and trends in New Zealand
The gambling market in New Zealand is worth billions of dollars. According to the statistics portal Statista, gambling expenditure in New Zealand increased steadily from 2011 to reach almost 2,4 billion New Zealand dollars in 2018, which was an increase of around $400 million in just seven years. RNZ recently reported that New Zealanders spent more on pokies in 2020 than ever before, despite lockdowns and temporary closures of pubs.
Pokies are one of the most popular forms of gambling in New Zealand. Introduced in the early 90s, slot machines can be found in bars and hotels all over the country. These slots are heavily regulated. For example, all machines are required to have displays that inform the player how much they have won or lost and how long they have been playing.
In addition to pokies, common forms of gambling in New Zealand include traditional lotteries and betting on horse racing. The country also has six land-based casinos, which are based in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. These days, many players prefer to play at an online casino in New Zealand, as online gambling offers more flexibility and a wider selection of games.
The Gambling Act of 2003
Although gambling has existed in New Zealand for a long time, most forms of gambling were prohibited until the beginning of the 20th century. The Gaming Act of 1908 made it legal to bet on horses, and the national lottery (called the Golden Kiwi) was introduced in 1961. Fruit machines, also commonly known as pokies, were introduced and distributed in the beginning of the 90s. New Zealand’s first land-based casino opened its doors in 1994. Interestingly, no more casinos are allowed to be constructed in the country today.
Today’s offline gambling market in New Zealand is regulated under the Gambling Act of 2003 and controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs. The New Zealand Gambling Commission is a department that was established under the Gambling Act of 2003. The gambling commission issues casino operators’ licences and processes the renewal of casino venue licences, among other things.
The Gambling Act 2003 defines four classes of gambling. Most lotteries, prize draws, instant games and other games of chance fall into classes 1 to 3, while gaming machines (such as slot machines and video poker games) outside casinos fall into class 4. Each gambling class has specific rules regarding max prizes, turnover and licensing. Online gambling is not regulated, but it is not illegal for someone in New Zealand to play on a website that is based overseas. Most online casinos are regulated by the country of operation, which means that players who play online are still protected.
