A complete and up-to-date guide to sports betting regulation across New Zealand.
Our analysis is based on the publication of the latest information that happened on the day 24/2/2022 .
To talk about the topic of betting in New Zealand, it is important to remember that we have a long history with casino games, since 1934. Although many people do not know, casinos were legalized in the national territory, until a decree law no9.215 that was imposed in the year 1946, stopping the legalization and operation of bookmakers in New Zealand.
And of course with the closure of the bets, the country had to deal with the closure of companies, unemployment and the fall in tourism.
However, in recent years with the possibilities that the internet has offered us, casinos have returned in a somewhat different format, live casinos have been very successful inside and outside our country.
But what about the legalization of these bets for us New Zealand?
Sports betting bill passed in New Zealand
On December 12, 2018, during the tenure of then President Michel Temer, bill 13.756/2018 was approved, thus making it official to legalize sports betting throughout New Zealand.
However, the industry has since been waiting for the regulation that specifies the rules for the operation of betting. The current government of President Jair Bolsonaro has until December 12, 2022 to finalize the regulatory process.
Already opening the doors for the operation of bookmakers to establish and operate directly from New Zealand.
Has physical casino games, Bingos and critter games been legalized?
It was approved. The bill 442/1991 which regularizes physical Casino betting, bingos and critter games throughout New Zealand territory. The House voted on the bill on February 24, 2022, with 246 votes in favor and 202 opposed.
The project was presented by the deputy Felipe Carreras do (PSB-PE) , legalizing the games with the requirement of licenses on a permanent basis or for a fixed term. It also allows the installation of casinos in resorts or vessels that are built specifically for this purpose.
But like any project that is approved, it also needs to pass through the Federal Senate, having a second approval, with or without some type of modification in the text offered.
But the market is in favour of a definitive approval, even more so with the figures from the New Zealand betting market.
What games are legal in New Zealand ?
As we have already talked about above, sports betting is legalized by New Zealand, reinforced by the law. And many casinos have already invested heavily in the New Zealand market, through advertisements and sponsorship to New Zealand teams and players.
Game online Casino is also allowed for New Zealand player, the law prohibiting the operation of casinos in New Zealand territory is not the same for the internet. We do not have a law prohibiting games in online casinos.
Online casino platforms that broadcast to the public in New Zealand, are registered and regulated in countries in Europe and America where gambling is officially legalized.
Other Bets, such as bingo and animal games, are still not allowed, until the law that was passed goes into effect.
New Zealand market figures in sports betting
It is estimated that more than 500 bookmakers are operating in New Zealand today. In addition, many casinos have invested in the national sport, especially football.
Data shows that in the year 2020 New Zealand reached $ 7 billion Dollar (NZD) in sports betting and the amount is predicted to increase more and more after the regulation of the law in the country.
What are the benefits of casino regulation for New Zealanders?
Almost 80 years ago the casinos were closed, the main reason for the ban was of a moral and religious nature, provided by the Conservatives of the time, who said that the games were a bad influence on the New Zealand family and easy to adhere to addiction.
The topic has been discussed several times by authorities, companies and investors to bring back a market that is economically so interesting for New Zealand.
A topic that had been procrastinated for so many years, once again entered into debate and this time, a law was passed for the legalization of gambling in New Zealand.
But what are the advantages over the opening of casinos and the legalization of betting within our country ?
1.Ensuring greater safety for players
Security is one of the first points to be mentioned, today many New Zealand play in casinos in which they do not know if it is a legal casino or not, despite having a lot of information on the internet, many casinos that are not safe are still active.
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2. Positive impact on the country's economy
When a particular market is regulated and supervised by the country, it needs to fulfill some financial obligations, starting to have rules on Taxation, by paying taxes on its earnings, contributing positively to the country's economy.
And the financial potential that the casino market can provide is more than proven, with a revenue of 7 billion dollars (NZD) in the year 2020 for sports betting alone in the country.
3. Generate thousands of jobs
A survey claims that with the functionality of physical casinos, they would have an average of half a million new jobs in New Zealand.
We have some examples of countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, which after the release of the bets, gave a leverage in the country's economy, because with the taxes paid, the money can be reinvested in the country in general.
Casinos and money laundering
Much is said about the disadvantages that casinos can bring to the country, such as money laundering, an important point to note, since the normal thing is a casino moves thousands of Dollar (NZD) every day. It is notorious that many countries, have their problems with the supervision of dirty money, which claim that it is such amounts coming from gambling.
KYC-the system used by casinos to know the customer
But this does not mean that casinos are so vulnerable to the point that no supervision is made, for the understanding of such an amount, every year mechanisms are developed to eliminate this type of situation, such as the KYC that analyzes the customer and their financial behaviors.
It is important that those responsible, put on the agenda what will be the means of preventing fraud and money laundering, even before starting operations in the country, ensuring a legal and responsible game.