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Editorial: March appropriate month for problem gambling campaign

  • In June 2024, a Department of Internal Affairs briefing to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, who is responsible for regulating online gambling, outlined the government's plan to auction off 15 online casino gambling licenses, marking the opening of a new market in New Zealand.
  • This new market arises as Sky City, among others, has been losing ground to offshore sites, with Sky City's online casino in Malta generating tens of millions in revenue annually.
  • The government's decision to allow advertising for these online casinos, which is currently illegal for offshore sites, is intended to support tax collection and channel gamblers towards licensed providers, though the DIA acknowledges this could increase gambling harm.
  • Sky City chief executive Jason Walbridge stated that over 30 operators are currently targeting Kiwis, advertising illegally, and that New Zealand could sustain a maximum of seven licenses without overwhelming the market, potentially leading to excessive gambling advertisements.
  • Concerns are growing among organizations like the Problem Gambling Foundation, with spokesperson Andree Froude expressing surprise at the market's size and stating that allowing advertising "feeds into the normalisation of gambling," while others warn of potential financial crimes and consumer scams associated with unregulated gambling operations, leading to fears of increased problem gambling.
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RNZ broke the news in New Zealand on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
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