Brooke van Velden, internal affairs minister, has highlighted the passage of the third and final reading of the Online Casino Gambling Bill, which introduces a regulatory framework that offers up to 15 licences via a competitive process.
In a news release, she explained that the new regulatory regime will require licensed operators to exclude problem gamblers and to comply with stringent requirements for preventing harm and protecting consumers.
The government shared that the legislation seeks to ensure the return of a portion of online casino gambling revenue to New Zealand’s communities.
van Velden noted that the submissions on the bill called for online casino gambling benefits to flow back to local sports clubs, community groups, and grassroots organisations.
