Similar to other highly developed countries, New Zealand enjoys a strong online gaming fan base. Some platforms serve as nothing other than a form of entertainment while others can often be used as a means to generate a supplemental form of income. Of course, we are referring to digital casinos in this sense. Still, players will first have to overcome one undeniable barrier.
Domestic real-money online casinos in NZ are not currently recognised by the New Zealand Gambling Commission. This is due to the Gambling Act 2003 (1). So, what does this signify for those who wish to enjoy their favourite games? What options do aficionados have? Will these laws change in the near future? Let us jump right in without any further ado.
Outdated Legislation?
We should begin by noting that New Zealand is not the only nation that has taken a rather strict tone in reference to online casinos. Many other countries have strict anti-gambling rules in place including Singapore, Poland and Cyprus (although Cyprus actually serves as the headquarters for many successful virtual casinos).
The main issue here is that some analysts view the regulations themselves to be outdated and otherwise impossible to enforce. For instance, those who wish to access wildly popular slots such as Mega Moolah games will inevitably find ways to circumvent any restrictions.
An Important Stipulation
To be perfectly clear, New Zealand does allow some forms of gambling such as sports betting and lotteries.,However, domestic online casinos do not apply to this framework at the moment . The good news is that these regulations say nothing about offshore gaming or players who wish to register with foreign platforms.
This is why many residents who consider themselves to be die-hard gaming fans will often employ the services of a virtual private network (VPN). How do these systems work and why can they allow players to bypass the restrictions outlined above?
A Quick Look at VPNs and Online Casinos
The main intention of a virtual private network is to hide personal details (including an IP address) from third parties. Not only does this provide an additional layer of security, but it keeps the every-prying eye of big brother at bay. While VPNs are often touted for their anonymity, they also serve as excellent ways to register with offshore gaming portals.
These systems also provide users with the ability to choose which virtual “hub” to employ when accessing a specific website. This helps to eliminate possible distance-related issues such as network congestion and buffering. Hubs can also be selected based off of their signal strength and it is possible to change nodes during a session if latency becomes a problem.
Additional Levels of Security
While VPNs are quite useful, what about other instances of data theft such as phishing or malware? Online casinos have taken a number of steps to ensure that New Zealand players will not place their personal information at risk. One popular method involves a system known as SSL encryption.
SSL is an abbreviation for Secure Sockets Layer and all technicalities aside, this algorithm scrambles all information sent between players and the platforms themselves. Such a method renders it nearly impossible to decode this data even if it happens to be intercepted. Simply stated, registered members can rest assured in the knowledge that their details will not become compromised during gameplay.
Might Domestic Online Casinos Become Legal in New Zealand?
There is little doubt that the popularity of online gaming continues to skyrocket throughout New Zealand. As a younger generation of players is becoming exposed to the games and platforms themselves, it is likely that the government will be forced to modify its current legislation so that it is much easier for domestic providers to obtain valid licences.
There is yet another consideration to mention before moving on. Virtual gaming represents a massive source of income and therefore, it could be used as a means to generate additional internal revenue. At the moment, New Zealand is essentially missing out on such an opportunity thanks to a lack of domestic portals. It is perhaps for this reason alone that lawmakers could very well adopt a more lenient stance in the coming years. Of course, there are also no laws prohibiting players from looking elsewhere at the moment (2); another reason for the nation to rethink its ongoing policies.
The Future of Online Casinos: New Zealand and Beyond
Regardless of whether we are referring to offshore platforms or (hopefully) domestic online casinos, the entire industry is set to enjoy a bright digital future. Recent advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) have already begun to transform the games themselves.
It is currently estimated that one out of every seven New Zealand adults gambles on a regular basis (3). This is why online casinos are indeed here to stay. The only question remaining is what other unique innovations may be looming just beyond the digital horizon.
Sources:
- https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0051/latest/DLM207497.html
- https://1883magazine.com/all-you-should-know-about-online-gambling-in-new-zealand/
- https://www.hpa.org.nz/sites/default/files/NZers_participation_in_gambling.pdf