11574 (2025). Benjamin Doyle to the Minister of Internal Affairs

11574 (2025). Benjamin Doyle to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What analysis, if any, was undertaken on the distribution of impacts on problem gambling with online casinos being able to advertise in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised that as part of the first Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on the online gambling regulatory design, the Department of Internal Affairs recommended a licensing-based approach, which Cabinet agreed to. Under this model, domestic advertising of online casino games would be legalised, within limits. This would enable licenced operators to attract or ‘channel’ customers away from unregulated operators towards their regulated platforms. In this RIS, the Department noted that allowing some advertising by licensed operators will support channelling to regulated markets, keeping players in safer online settings. The higher standards of a regulated market, including rules on advertising and harm reduction on online gambling platforms, will reduce the overall burden of harm.