How does the licensing system for NZ online gambling operators work?
Gambling has grown in popularity worldwide thanks to the relaxation of laws that govern gambling by the various respective authorities. Nonetheless, there are still many countries that still have stricter gambling laws. Other countries like New Zealand however, have implemented laws that are tough on the operators than on players. The country is one of the few that has introduced laws governing gambling that allow for online lottery games as well as sports betting.
Make no mistake however, the country hasn’t allowed online casino gaming per se. Only the players in the country are free to place online bets on offshore platforms. You may ask how that is possible. Well, it all boils down to the gambling laws of the country that offer loopholes to players.
Overview of the online gambling regulation in the country
The first laws aimed to govern gambling in New Zealand were introduced in the country in 2003. The gambling act allowed the New Zealand Racing Board and the New Zealand Lottery Commission to regulate the gambling industry in the country. This effectively ensures that any online lottery or sports book that’s affiliated with either NZLC or NZRB found flouting the act would be operating illegally.
According to the laws, gambling operators within the country aren’t allowed to offer online casino games to players. The law however remains silent on offshore gambling operators or offshore online casinos. Moreover, operators outside of the country are beyond the jurisdictions of NZRB and the NZLC.
The law nevertheless permits land based gambling operators that are offering various casino games to their clients. It is however important for you to note that any form of remote gambling services that may be offered by onshore operators is outlawed.

It is interesting that even with the strictness of the authorities with regards to online casino games players still prefer them. Moreover, players take advantage of the loopholes that allow offshore operators to provide online casino games to them. Some of the popular online casino games that interest players include bingo and poker. This is why the best New Zealand casino offshore operators provide all the online casino games to their players based in the country.
What about the limit for authorized casinos in the country?
New Zealand is an interesting in so far as gambling and casinos are concerned. As you can see from the revelations above, the law prohibits operators from providing online casino games. Nonetheless, players are virtually off the hook and can simply play online games without much ado.
Talking about the limit for authorized casinos in the country, of course they are allowed to operate in the country legally. However, they are limited in terms of remote or online casino games offerings to players in the country. Any operator found flouting the requirement risks having the license revoked or paying some hefty fines or even both.

Taxation System
The other issue that operators have to contend with is the taxation laws for gambling activities that favor the player. Players in the country who are not hosting any games are not subject to taxation for their wins. Even though the country’s revenue authority tax code mentions gambling taxes, it’s only targeted at the operators and not players.
New Zealand doesn’t consider any money generated out of gambling as a form of income. Nevertheless, gamblers who do the craft as their only means of income are required to pay income tax from what they win out of betting. But even with this, they can easily deduct any losses they make from their overall income tax.
How to choose the right gambling website in New Zealand
The New Zealand government has very limited control over offshore gambling operators providing her citizens gambling services. Unfortunately this leaves some loophole for the bad sites to target unsuspecting players in the country. This is why as a player you should always do some due diligence on any given operator you wish to engage.
Here are some qualities of a good gambling website in New Zealand to look for:
- Safety and security – a good website gives priority to the security of their user’s data. Any worthy operator will have a license from a reputable jurisdiction like the UK or Malta.
- Available customer support – any reputable casino operator must have a dedicated customer support. If it doesn’t have any customer support then that’s a red flag for you to avoid it altogether.
- The available payment methods – you should opt for an operator that features payment methods available in New Zealand. This will be so convenient for you to work with should you win and need to access your funds.
Look out for reviews about the provider – does the gambling website enjoy positive reviews from other New Zealand players? If the answer is yes, then you can trust the operator. However, always ensure that the reviews are authentic and left by real players.
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