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The Legality of iGaming in NZ and the Market’s Future

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We’ve seen a seismic shift in the typical approach to iGaming regulation in recent times, with relatively diverse regions such as the US and Europe largely looking to legalise different verticals and bring outdated legislation kicking and screaming into the digital age.

Even in the UK, we’ve seen the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) being pressured to conduct a comprehensive licensing review in conjunction with the government and implement rule changes that help to safeguard players more effectively online.

New Zealand is also in the midst of a sustained legislative review, in a bid to update and enhance the existing Gambling Act of 2003. But what are the current iGaming laws in NZ, and what does the future hold for this market?

The Legality of iGaming in New Zealand

The Gambling Act of 2003 regulates all verticals both on and offline in NZ, although the fact that it predates the UK’s Gambling Act of 2005 highlights just how out of touch this legislation may be.

Certainly, some would argue that New Zealand’s regulatory approach is quite strange, although it’s actually deceptively popular and widespread in a number of non-European markets.

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More specifically, online gambling is prohibited when using private and domestic operators based within the borders of New Zealand. However, no such provision has been made for wagering with international markets, which has made a vast and increasingly motivated audience available to global operators such as Betway,  777.com and others listed on the onlinecasinonewzealand.nz website.

The only exceptions to this rule exist in the form of Lotto and TAB, which are centrally controlled government agencies that provide limited lottery and sports betting products respectively.

Interestingly, the overseas online casino market has grown markedly in a relatively short space of time, with New Zealanders pouring an incredible $381 million into the coffers of offshore operators during the past 18 months alone.

Such growth has also prompted discussion amongst various stakeholders in NZ, with two key points of discussion being raised as part of the aforementioned review of the 2003 Gambling Act.

Firstly, the amount of money being spent with offshore operators has raised concerns about lost tax revenue, as the licensing of limited domestic brands could create lucrative levies that are instead payable to the New Zealand government.

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Secondly, it has been argued that there’s a fundamental lack of control and regulation pertaining to international casino operators in NZ, creating a digital market that’s particularly hard to control and likely to increase the gambling-related harm caused to society.

We’ll touch more on the likely outcome of the review by the Department of Internal Affairs below, while asking what iGaming in NZ may look like in the future.

 

How Will the Review Affect iGaming in New Zealand?

Clearly, the main goals of the review will be to factor in the overwhelmingly digital nature of gambling in 2021, while also focusing on the best ways to monetise iGaming for the NZ government and adequately safeguard players.

The Department of Internal Affairs has already issued four initial proposals, although these have come under some fire for being heavily weighted in favour of monetising the industry and increasing access to casinos rather than protecting gamblers.

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The first idea would see Lotto and TAB expanded to offer a wider range of products, including a centrally controlled online casino. This would provide limited competition to the nation’s army of overseas operators, although this measure may not go far enough given the number of brands currently active in NZ.

A second, and more feasible, option would see new licensed operators enter the region’s iGaming market, including both domestic brands and carefully selected overseas companies.

This would certainly boost market competition, while allowing the government to create a framework in which all operators pay tax and remote gaming duty directly back into the NZ economy. This would definitely appear to be the most likely outcome from the current review, even though future provisions would have to be made to protect players from the impact of gambling-related harm.

This is also far more appealing than a third reform option, which would be to allow more international operators (such as Mega Moolah) to apply for online licenses in NZ.

After all, the DIA would probably have to rely on voluntary compliance to rules and regulations, although it would once again increase market competition and guarantee competitive odds and welcome bonuses for players.

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Week 46/2024 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

Spinomenal has welcomed another title into its Wildlife Series, Majestic Bison. Set in the Wild West, Majestic Bison surrounds players in a landscape populated with wild wolves, elegant eagles, fearsome snakes and formidable goats. A stripped back soundtrack captures the essence of the Wild West, with banjos and harmonicas immersing players in the action as they hunt for gold.

Spinomenal introduces Majestic Bison title

 

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PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is celebrating the magic of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival with the release of its new slot, Rio Fantasia. A young dancer named Isabella is the star of the show as players join in the rhythm and passion of one of the world’s most spectacular parties. Rio Fantasia is a 3-reel, 3-row video slot featuring Stacked Wild symbols, multipliers, and respin until win.

Join in the carnival celebrations with PG Soft’s Rio Fantasia

 

Hölle Games has released Jumpin’ Jacks, a new Classic title featuring a special Duplicating Wilds mechanic. This 5×3, 15 payline slot has a theme of Halloween harvest, with scarecrows, pumpkins, corn, crows and a creepy midnight sky completing the picture. The atmosphere is there to match, with a cosy yet somewhat spooky soundtrack.

JUMPIN’ JACKS HITS HÖLLE THIS HALLOWEEN

 

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has served up Cafe Pin-Up, a slot that whisks players away to a vibrant 1950s diner, where retro glamour meets thrilling gameplay. Players take a seat inside a charming cafe, where pin-up girls are on hand to deliver delicious dishes in a raucous atmosphere created by a jukebox playing toe-tapping tunes. The game is presented in a 5×4 grid with 20 paylines with the Pin-Up Girl Wild symbol playing the key role.

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Belatra serves up delicious new release Cafe Pin-Up

 

New from Peter & Sons comes Muddy Waters, a game that will send your Geiger counter up to 11. This high-volatility and highly radioactive slot comes packed with symbol multipliers, power-ups and a unique fishing mechanic. Muddy Waters riffs on the popular fishing-slot genre, but since this is the weird and wonderful world of Peter & Sons, it gets flipped on its head, because this game is about reeling in radioactive fish.

Peter & Sons’ Radioactive Fishing Game ‘Muddy Waters’ Hits November 14

 

Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and provider of unique content, is getting players into the festive spirit with its latest release, Money Sleigh, a Christmas-themed slot guaranteed to deliver stocking-filled fun and the chance to unwrap big wins. Santa and his team of loyal helpers are ready to guide players through this exciting holiday adventure, with the potential to win up to 10,000x their stake.

Relax Gaming brings Christmas cheer with the release of feature-packed Money Sleigh

 

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AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZITRO AND GRUPO OSGA TO PROMOTE THE LABOT INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

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Zitro, a leading company in the gaming industry, has signed a collaboration agreement with Grupo OSGA, a business group committed to promoting the employment of people with disabilities. Grupo OSGA offers job opportunities to people with disabilities and supports their professional development in inclusive and accessible environments.

Through this alliance, Grupo OSGA will provide Zitro with a parcel and documentation service between its offices, optimizing Zitro’s operational efficiency and strengthening its social commitment to creating a more inclusive work environment.

At Zitro, we firmly believe in the power of diversity as a driver of growth and development. This collaboration with Grupo OSGA not only enriches our company but also reinforces our commitment to contributing to a fairer and more inclusive society,” said Albert Zorrilla, Managing Director of Zitro for Spain.

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“The collaboration with a prestigious international company like Zitro not only constitutes recognition of the work that Grupo OSGA has been carrying out but also contributes to the generation of real opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve effective and stable integration in the labor market,” said Oscar Galilea, President of Grupo Osga.

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EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers

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BetHub and EGT Digital have started their successful partnership, as a result of which the leading Bulgarian operator is now using the iGaming platform X-Nave. Its 4 main modules: CRM Engine, Sport product, Gaming Aggregator and Payment Gateway, enable the betting site to effectively manage all online gaming business verticals and further improve its performance.

CRM Engine provides a wide range of player management tools and bonus features, allowing the operator to create more personalized offerings for its customers, based on their preferences and behavior.

Through X-Nave’s Sport product BetHub will enrich even more the sport content it offers.

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The Payment Gateway gives access to numerous payment methods and thanks to the Gaming Aggregator EGT Digital’s slot games are already at the disposal of the website’s visitors. The top-performing titles from Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, Single Progressive Jackpot, as well as the multiplayer game xRide quickly gained popularity among BetHub’s customers.

“We are very glad with our collaboration with EGT Digital so far,” commented Kiril Naldzhiev, CEO at BetHub. “The platform has made the management of our business much easier, and the company’s gaming content has shown impressive results that have not only met but exceeded our expectations.”

Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, also gave a positive evaluation to the cooperation. She said: “Partnering with a prominent operator like BetHub is very valuable for us, as it gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous potential of our developments and consolidate our status as a leader in the local market. I am confident that this is the beginning of a very successful collaboration that will bring a lot of positives to both companies and the players themselves.”

The post EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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