Gambling has been in New Zealand for centuries, but not many people have explored its full potential. An era was completely anti-gambling where strict regulations had been imposed over all forms of gambling. The gambling space is filled with the options of sports gambling, horse racing, lotteries, and mobile slot machines. Many of these games are based outside New Zealand’s borders. Though the gamblers in the country are being offered several such gaming opportunities, many of them balk at the idea of signing up for sessions on the internet. The history of gambling in New Zealand dates back to the 1830s, and the betting was primarily focused only on a limited area. Despite the opposition by the authorities, gambling was brought back into action last century. Let us look at more details of casino gambling in New Zealand.
The First Gambling Laws
Bookmaking was prohibited in New Zealand in the 1920s. Horse racing and related bets were allowed only until 1961, after which the regulations were stricter. However, in the 1980s, the rules became relaxed, and the lottery games were approved. The first casino in the country opened in 1994, and slot machines were also legalized along with the launch.
Current Gambling Laws
According to the Gambling Act 2003, all gambling activities are prohibited in the territory unless it has been officially authorized. A special license is required from the government for the casinos and games to operate in the country. The various classes of licenses will determine the turnovers and maximum prize money. Sports betting is available for players above the age of 18, whereas the other players need to be 20 years old to get started. Remote interactive gambling and bookmaking are two forms of gambling that are prohibited even today.
The law states that gamblers aren’t allowed to play in online casinos based in New Zealand, meaning only international casinos can operate in the country. But you can still play at such casinos if you have the best technology to hide your activities. As long as a player is old enough to gamble, they can access all approved sites to bet on various games. So, you can play all the top casino games at any time you want.
New Zealand Players
If you have been planning to gamble online, you don’t need to be concerned about the government repercussions. All games can be played if the casino is operating from outside the border. Since the New Zealand dollar is not accepted in most casinos, you may have to exchange it for a different currency. You can also opt for cryptocurrency or other convenient forms of transaction. When you gamble on sites based in New Zealand, you will be limited to slot machines because they don’t have the permission to provide other games. But, it is always better to gamble on international sites so that you don’t have to pay tax on the winnings.