A country that is increasingly becoming popular in the online gambling industry, it has been legal to gamble online in New Zealand since the introduction of the Gambling Act in 2003 which fully regulated the industry.
This act was introduced to control all forms of gambling in the country and highlighted the fact that at 18, you could take part in the lottery, sports betting and scratch card betting, however, you could not enter a land-based casino unless you were 20.
It is the case that some people in the country are prohibited from using domestic gambling sites, with the exception of TAB (New Zealand’s government sports betting agency) and the lottery, while New Zealand’s gambling regulations look to police and even punish those entities that operate illegally.
How can players gamble legally in New Zealand?
Primarily via TAB, which offers a multitude of options to bet on sports, players do have a number of options available in the country. In addition to this, the New Zealand Lottery Commission has been allowed to offer online lottery tickets since 2008.
With other local sites officially banned, it means that players must use international sites, and the law around this is somewhat of a grey area. While they are not prohibited, they are not considered to be legal either. Generally though, players can make wagers on an offshore site without worrying about any legal repercussions.
Despite this, offshore operators are banned from advertising in the country, due to a strict crackdown, with any guilty parties facing fines of up to $10,000 for every infringement.
International sites have become commonplace in the country, especially over the last decade, though these tend to be the more established operators that have a good reputation and which are well-known in the industry.
Regardless of this, players do not need to worry about being punished playing at an illegal online casino – or indeed, one that has not been approved. The casino itself will likely face penalties.
However, players should be aware about playing at online casinos that have not been approved because this can pose a substantial risk. This could particularly be the case if it is an online casino that has not been heard of, or does not have a big online presence, whether this is social media or any kind of internet footprint.
Players can run the risk of potential harm such as their winnings not being paid, slots and games that are not fair, or a poor standard of customer service.
If one of these scenarios does occur, such as funds being lost, it can be hard for players to recover because the casino site isn’t on the approved list of the country and does not necessarily fall under its jurisdiction.
Should the customer be successful with any claim from one of these casino sites, it could turn out to be a long process, especially if it takes a long time for the authorities to get involved.
Of course, if they are of age, they can also frequent land-based casinos and other physical gambling facilities, with plenty to choose from in the country’s major cities. Arguably the most well-known casino chain in New Zealand is Sky City, with multiple venues in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Queenstown and Wellington to name just a few. These are also, all owned by the state.
How to find the best gambling sites in New Zealand
If you are looking for a highly reliable and, ultimately, safe online gambling experience in New Zealand, then it is almost definitely worth using the TAB website for your activities, because you can take comfort from the fact that this is run by the government. As a result, it is the subject of necessary regulatory scrutiny and any problem can easily be solved.
In terms of others that are available offshore, it is only worth using those that you are familiar with, because it means that you will know how reliable and trustworthy that they are.
Also, there are a number of factors to consider when thinking about signing up to an online casino that meets the regulatory approval of the New Zealand gambling authorities. Let’s take a look at what these are and why they are often so pivotal in terms of meeting the necessary regulations.
Multiple and safe payment methods
Casino sites that have a great choice of safe banking options for customers are often attractive. When it comes to making deposits and withdrawals at casino sites, it is important that customers know whether they have an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate, which is technology that scrambles any financial transactions to keep details safe from external threats.
Players can mainly choose from a wide range of options, including very recently, Poli, which is native to New Zealand and Australia, plus well-known eWallets such as PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and ecoPayz among others. Paysafecard is also a conservative option that some players prefer.
Variety of Slots and Games
Approved online casinos in New Zealand that have a wide range of slots and games available often enhance that site’s reputation – especially if these are popular and well-known titles.
It can also help to increase the site’s authority and reputation if they have partnered with some of the best software providers in the industry because they often create the most popular slots and games.
Mobile optimisation
Another highly credible aspect of an approved online casino in New Zealand is how well-optimised they are on all mobile devices. Over the last decade, the industry has effectively become ‘mobile first’ which means that the most legitimate online casinos are putting a lot of investment into this.
Will there be any change to the New Zealand gambling bill?
While at the minute, a reform does not appear to be on the horizon, it is possible that authorities may look to make changes over the next couple of years. This could include officially welcoming foreign operators as a way of generating income (via taxation for licences). Most offshore operators available to New Zealand are typically licenced by the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority).
However, it could also include tighter legislation that may limit maximum bets or impose a stricter KYC (Know Your Customer) policy at the registration stage.
How is this online gambling regulated in South Africa?
It is not so easy to compare the South African gambling market with the one in NZ. The current gambling regulations in South Africa are out dated and difficult. According to the national gambling board all the online casino games are illegal, some bookmakers are allowed if they have a license. One simple google search will give you south africa online casino sites, which means that they are not allowed or operating using a loophole in the SA law. We found that most of these sites are operating from outside South Africa and some do even have a gambling license from Malta or Curacao. Wherever it is smart to play a casino that is officially not allowed is up to you. After our research we can say that most of them are licensed and we seem to find pretty positive feedback. South Africa is working on updating their gambling laws allowing more online gambling companies to obtain a license, but this is still far away…