Critics of New Zealand’s move to legalize and legislate online casinos are slamming the proposal over possible increases in gambling advertisements and potential lost pokie revenue.
The proposed bill would allow a government auction of up to 15 online casino licenses, while aiming to prevent other operators’ access through geoblocking.
The issue of the potential impact on pokies has been raised before, with concerns the possible loss in revenue could impact pokie operators’ contribution to community projects funding.
Now critics are also concerned with the possible impact advertisements for the legal online casino operators could have, particularly the inducements that they can offer to attract clients.
Moving even beyond advertising, a spokesperson for the Problem Gambling Foundation, cited by The Post, proposed banning all gambling advertising and also preventing the use of credit cards for gambling purposes.
Amongst the debate, the industry was also allowed to weigh in, with sports betting operator TAB highlighting the two sides of the legislative coin.
“The online casino market could and potentially will take away from our betting market and reduce our returns to community sport and racing, so we need to get into this new form of gambling,” stated TAB board member David Bennett.
Meanwhile, online casino operator SGHC (behind the Betway platform) proposed a possible increase to the 15 operator cap, highlighting its harm minimization tools to avoid gambling disorder.
“When it comes to operators like us, this bill places you in control,” noted SGHC senior vice president Antony Gevisser, “You regulate us, you tax us, you set the standards.”
While the bill has been hotly debated, the government has generally adopted an open stance, hoping to gain tax revenue from an unregulated sector, while providing better player protection through regulated platforms.
