Gaming enthusiasts hoping to play in casinos in New Zealand have hitherto been obliged to look to unregulated sites. Nevertheless, the government has come a long way in liberalising online gambling and, this July, unveiled its New Zealand Online Gambling Bill.
The draft legislation will grant 15 licences to online casino operators hoping to set up business in the nation. This move is set to revamp the gaming industry, where further licences will come to market as it grows.
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What does this mean
The New Zealand Online Casino Gambling Bill will launch a regulatory system. The goals are to offer player protection, responsible gambling and of course tax collection. As it currently stands, players have minimal protection when visiting and playing at unregulated sites.
With a regulatory framework in place, Kiwi online casino players will be safeguarded with a set of regulations and laws that casinos would need to abide by.
This includes procedures related to cashouts, players' protection tools and even a robust complaint resolution structure.
Casino licensing in 3 steps
It will be a highly rigorous procedure to secure a New Zealand online casino licence, consisting of three separate stages. To be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, it will be dedicated to high standards of enforcement as well as a balanced gambling marketplace.
- The first phase requires operators to submit a formal expression of interest to purchase a licence. Market heavyweights like 888, Bet365, and Betway have already indicated their interest in participating.
- The second phase will require a scrutiny of applicants to scrutinise their current standards of operation, as well as an evaluation of how they conduct casino business.
- Those operators that meet those set standards will then submit formal applications.
What will these changes bring
The New Zealand Gambling Act 2003 prohibits gaming and betting companies from advertising their services online.
The new system will lift this burden, with companies allowed to market gaming products via various online outlets. Casino players will be able to view a variety of promotions and bonuses, also compare and choose the best deal out of the 15 operators obtaining a license.
🤝 This move will translate into punters having a good market at their fingertips, with operators going head to head in offering the best deals.
Another factor to consider is the legal framework that licencees would need to uphold. Regulated casinos have an obligation to use advanced encryptions to protect player personal and financial data.
Below are some of the perks you can expect to enjoy whilst playing at regulated New Zealand Casinos.
Player security and safety
Virtual games require financial and personal information when joining and depositing. Licensed sites are legally required to protect such information from theft using SSL encryption technology. This kind of protection cannot be presumed when it comes to unlicensed sites.
Handling your finances
Unlicensed sites will sometimes fabricate rules regarding payouts. Licensed sites must abide by payout procedures spelled out in terms and conditions. These regulations dictate time frames to collect winnings and procedures to follow when dealing with large payouts.
Game fairness and rng
Licensed casinos are obliged to put their games through fairness testing and RNG verification. These requirements are evaded by unlicensed casinos to evade connected expenditures.
Licensed casinos provide validated and upright games whose results solely depend upon chance.
Customer support
Licensed premises are required to have adequate customer support facilities. Specialist support teams are available through a range of access channels and are available to assist.
📞 Casino support is accessible to players to interact in real time with agents, such that inquiries are responded to promptly.
There are limited support services and no defined escalation processes offered to unlicensed sites.
Responsible gambling tools
One big aspect of all gaming licenses is the need to adopt and implement Responsible gambling tools.
The licensing body, and rightly so, expects license holders to offer tools such as:
- Taking a break
- Having deposit limits
- Managing loss limits
- Banning individuals who request to be banned to fight gambling addictions.
Whilst the actual RG regulations have not been issued yet, future license holders will be expected to adhere to strict rules. Operators will be fined hefty if an RG framework is not upheld.
Competitive campaigns
New Zealand operators will move into a competitive arena. The 15 licence holders will create appealing bonuses and promotions to entice players.
🎁 When a casino is giving NZ$100 and 100 free spins as a sign-up offer, others will retaliate by improving their offerings.
This competitive market space will ultimately enrich players through ongoing competition among regulated New Zealand casinos.
Conclusion
We will forever recommend that players register and play through licensed online casinos.
When unregulated versus regulated sites are compared, licensed operators have consistently come out on top in terms of:
- Player protection
- Game offerings
- Standards of payment
- Customer services offered
The New Zealand Online Gambling Bill represents a positive advancement for the current gaming market. Players will be able to consult the operator register, compare options, and select a licensed casino whilst playing within the country.
Following the selection of the 15 gaming sites through the bidding process, we anticipate increased operator interest in the market, with hopes that additional licensing opportunities will emerge in future.
🚀 Along with transforming the face of the online casino market itself, its playing arena is set to see a distinct upgrading as well.
Online Kiwi players have much to eagerly await in the years ahead—all of it legally secure and with player protection on top.
Learn more about online gambling laws and regulations here.
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