New Zealander Casino and Card Room Gaming

New Zealand’s first casino opened in Christchurch in 1994.

The country’s laws and regulations regarding casinos and gaming machines continue to evolve. The primary legislation is the Gambling Act 2003, which created the Gambling Commission to license and regulate the industry. The Gambling Commission operates under the auspices of the Department of Internal Affairs. The 2003 law replaced the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977 and the Casino Control Act 1990. It made it more difficult for pubs and clubs to obtain and keep gaming machine licenses. The 2003 law also shifted the public policy focus on gaming away from tourism, employment and economic development to the prevention of problem gambling and the elimination of criminal elements and unlawful conduct.

The Gambling Act set the maximum number of casinos to six, and prohibited them from expanding gaming operations. Similar to pubs and clubs, casinos must also have active policies in place to identify and offer help to problem gamblers.

Electronic gaming machines in non-casino locations are networked by an electronic monitoring system that enables the state to track and monitor activity. The system's goal is to ensure gaming integrity and minimize fraudulent behavior.

In December 2004, licensed premises in New Zealand such as bars, restaurants, cafes, sports clubs and casinos became smoke-free.

In 2015, the government passed Gambling Amendment No. 2, which tightened the regulations for the operation of gaming machines, known locally as pokies. This is New Zealand's second effort at increasing regulations for pokies, which now require new and detailed financial accounting.