What Is The status of Gambling in New Zealand?
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At the time of writing, gambling is illegal in New Zealand unless it is specifically authorised under the Gambling Act created in 2003. For the purpose of the act, gambling is divided into four categories in New Zealand and the categories are determined by the amount of prize money involved.
For example, Class 1 gambling cannot have a prize or turnover greater than $500, whereas Class 2 gambling must have prizes with a total value between $500 and $5,000. If we look more closely at the Gambling Act 2003, Section 9(2)(b) is of particular interest for those who are curious about online gambling in New Zealand. This section prohibits remote interactive gambling, which means gambling using a device such as a computer, mobile phone, and laptop.
However, there are two exceptions to this rule and they are online lottery and online sports betting. The Racing Board and the Lotteries Commission can authorise and provide licences for online gambling companies operating in these sectors.
Perhaps the biggest shock when considering the details of the Gambling Act 2003 is that it does not make betting on overseas based gambling websites illegal. The Department of the Internal Affairs have said, “Only the gambling that is conducted in New Zealand is subject to the provisions of the Act. If any element of the gambling is organised or conducted in, or from New Zealand, it will be caught by the Gambling Act.”
So, anyone of the legal gambling age in New Zealand can open an account with a foreign online casino or bookmaker and place a bet without breaking the law. Many people living in New Zealand take full advantage of this and enjoy playing casino games and betting on sport. Casumo is a good example of an offshore casino used by people in New Zealand and it has grown to become a favourite online casino in NZ.
Casumo are based in Malta and licensed by the Gambling Commission in Malta. They also hold a license from the British Gambling Commission to operate in the UK, meaning they can be trusted. When visiting the Casumo website in New Zealand, you are greeted with the statement, ‘Your favourite NZ online casino’ and the bonus is displayed in New Zealand dollars, which is great.
In terms of the Casumo casino, there are over 1,500 different games available for players in New Zealand. All the major game developers are there, including Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Novomatic, Big Time Gaming, Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play, and many more. Complete with a live casino, it is easy to see why Casumo has become the leading choice for many New Zealand based gamblers. Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker are just some of the traditional games available in the live casino.
There are plenty of other offshore online gambling brands operating successfully in New Zealand. The loophole in the legislation means it is perfectly legal for people to enjoy gambling online in New Zealand if the websites used are based outside the country.
