The Online Casino Industry in New Zealand

The online gambling business has been thriving in New Zealand, with a multitude of international casinos catering to local players. Quite incongruously, no legislation exists for local online casinos to operate in New Zealand. Yet there are still so many options available for those willing to play; no deposit bonus NZ online casinos offer attractive possibilities for new players.

While the New Zealand law makes it clear that local online casinos cannot operate in the country, technically it is quite legal for casinos to run from outside the country. Therefore, local players are allowed to choose from any online casino that accepts registrations from New Zealand, even if they are not regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

Online Gambling Legislation in New Zealand

New Zealand's Gambling Act expressly forbids any gambling company based in the country from offering online casino games and other forms of virtual gambling. Thus, there are no licensed or regulated online casinos in New Zealand by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

New Zealand currently regulates online lottery games, along with online horse racing and sports betting, as the only forms of online gambling. It has to be accessed through Lotto NZ and New Zealand Racing Board (TAB) website and apps only.

Regulation on the Horizon

To bring consumer protection to bear on the unregulated offshore casino market, the New Zealand government is moving toward full regulation of online casinos.

Key Highlights of the Proposed New Regulations:

• A licensing system will be in place
• Casino licenses will be issued via an auction process
• Licenses will be valid for three years
• Sports betting and lottery are not included
• The minimum age for players will be 18 years
• Advertising will be allowed but with strict conditions
• Sponsorships by online casinos will remain banned
• The Department of Internal Affairs will regulate the industry

Under the proposals, a licensing system for online casinos wanting to operate in New Zealand will be introduced. Operators must get licenses, adhere to strict consumer protection standards, and keep to tax on their revenue.

International Online Casinos vs. New Zealand Online Casinos

As stated before, New Zealand's Gambling Act has, among other things, provisions prohibiting locally-registered companies from offering online casino services. There are therefore no online casinos based in New Zealand.

In reality, since any online casino legally operating for players in New Zealand is an internationally licensed casino, that's what registers local players on their platforms.

Though the majority of these international online casinos either contain "New Zealand" or "NZ" in their names or use NZ-based domains, it doesn't necessarily mean they have a license to operate in the country, just as it's not a guarantee that they're owned by New Zealand businesses.

Despite the apparent lack of regulation, many reliable and trustworthy names in the gambling world have taken the plunge into NZ. Still, they do include some of the biggest names in the industry.

How to Spot a Trustworthy Online Casino in New Zealand

With no laws concerning online casinos or regulation of online gambling operators in the sector, there exists no official list of operators approved by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

This is to say that the player must do deep research on the options available. Given this scenario, here are some things to consider while identifying whether the casino is trustworthy or not.

Check the License

The online casinos may be unlicensed in New Zealand, however, any casino allowing NZ players must at least bear a proper license from a recognized gaming authority. The online casinos, which gamble and operate in the global stimulant, list some international gaming authorities, such as:

• Malta Gaming Authority
• Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
• Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
• Curaçao Gaming Control Board

The New Zealand market is mostly served by casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, but not all available authorities have the necessary experience to grant this sort of license. If you are not familiar with the authority, consider checking into the reputation of the casino itself.

Usually, a casino's license will be disclosed either on the homepage of its website or on its app in the lower section. It is, however, a serious concern if this information is not readily visible.

Check Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are a fantastic way to see what kind of treatment players receive at online casinos. But not all reviews might appeal to New Zealand players; thus, trying to find locals' reviews is always worthwhile.

While the reviews by industry insiders are beneficial, self-reviews through online forums or social media will show you a more realistic version of the exact customer experience at an online casino.

Don't bother too much about the odd horrible review, all online companies will have a some unsatisfied customers; just make sure there are more sufficiently positive reviews than negative ones.

Ensure the Casino Site Offers Live Customer Support

Any online business handling money needs to pay attention to customer support, and so does the online casino industry. At times, various good customer support options will separate the wheat from the chaff.

Good online casinos generally have an FAQ section that should cover most of the queries and possibly a help section, which gives detailed explanations or guides about various aspects of casino gaming. There should also be a means to contact customer support. Normally, this would either have a contact form or the best online casinos would offer a live chat feature as well.

Live chat is indeed a differentiator in an online gambling website, showcasing that the organization actually cares about customer satisfaction. While some casinos may even provide a phone number, with international online casinos being mostly outside New Zealand, that is not very likely.

Conclusion

In New Zealand, online casinos are unregulated but safe for New Zealand players. Check for licensing, scrutiny, and the ability to contact customer support to determine which of these casinos is safe and most probable to offer a good time.