Our readers already know that they can bet online on the sites that we recommend as reliable. In addition to casino games, many of them have sports betting areas.
In both cases, New Zealand bettors are able to test their luck and withdraw winnings to their New Zealand accounts. Many, however, have doubts about whether this is in fact legal and how New Zealand gambling laws work.
The laws already passed: current situation
Since 2018, the betting situation in New Zealand has taken another turn. Sports betting with fixed odds has been legalized and regularized, with the last modification in 2021. Online casinos, for their part, were not included in this law and all their gaming modalities are still under discussion, but with a positive bias.
Therefore, at this time, the betting situation is as follows:
| Modality | Sports Betting | Slots and table games | Bingo | Lottery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Situation | Legalized in 2018 by law no 13756/2018 for fixed quotas. Found in many of the casinos recommended here. | Bill 442/1991 goes to the Senate for approval. | Bill 442/1991 goes to the Senate for approval. | National lotteries can be played online. International lotteries only on foreign sites. |
So in the case of slots, bingo and Animal Game online , there is no regularization yet. PL 442/1991 went to the Senate on February 25, 2022, after a few days of delay in the vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The project, called the Gaming Regulatory Framework, will allow the legalization of the above modalities and casinos in general.
Can I bet in casinos now?
Even if the regulatory framework for Games has not yet been approved, the situation for players remains the same. New Zealand gamblers can register on sites that are properly licensed to operate and that are based overseas. This is the case with all New Zealand online casinos we recommend here .
What changes with the legalization of casinos?
For the players, depending on the rules that are applied, it may be that little changes. After all, we have already managed to play, deposit and withdraw by means of very practical payment, such as the Pix . It is possible that there will be greater security specifically for New Zealanders, if organizations that value safe play are also created.
This has not been seen with sports betting, so it may not happen for the casino either. On the other hand, if something like New Zealand's Srij (Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service) is installed, there will be considerable changes to how we play online.
In this case, casinos would have to be licensed in New Zealand and it would not be enough for them to be legalized in other countries. This could also limit access to the variety of games, payment methods and other important factors in online gambling.
Although it is unknown, it is certain that we will no longer be at risk of moving in the opposite direction to other countries. That is, we do not risk a ban on the games that we can currently play online.
Keep an eye
Now that PL 442/1991 has come to a vote in the Senate, it no longer makes sense to have to keep an eye on several bills that address the topic. Fortunately, the most comprehensive project was chosen.
According to Deputy Herculano Passos (MDB-SP), a veto in the Senate would be suppressed by the Chamber of Deputies and, if it continues with the approval of the Senate, only the approval of the president of the Republic will remain.
Simple follow the next steps from this long history to find out what can change for those who play online and how the face-to-face game will be, in physical casinos, for example.
