New Zealand's Online Casino Gambling Bill continues to progress as a new report from the nation's Governance and Administration Committee concluded with the recommendation for community returns in alignment with recent Cabinet decisions.
In this context, community returns can be defined as a source of funding, generated by gambling revenue, that will be removed from the revenue stream to be redistributed into local grassroots communities. As part of this latest survey, the Committee noted 3,966 submissions of 5,000+ which raised concerns about a lack of community funding from gambling revenue.
Subsequently, New Zealand's Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, has welcomed the report - stating that the Cabinet has a plan in place for the distribution of community returns from gambling revenue following the restructuring of the nation's online casino market.
Speaking directly on this matter, van Velden said: "This report marks a crucial step forward in advancing online gambling regulations that protect Kiwis from harm. I'm pleased the report aligns strongly with Government decisions. Many groups were concerned that more gambling online would mean less gambling on pokie machines, and therefore a decrease to the level of funding returning to community groups.
"Submissions clearly showed New Zealanders want community returns from online gambling activity to ensure communities continue to get the funding they need. Cabinet agreed to provide these returns, and the Committee supported that decision."
Also highlighted by this latest report was the public's concern around the potential for higher rates of gambling-related harms stemming from increased advertising and, more broadly, a regulated market in general.
Van Velden has further responded directly to these concerns by stating that responsibility remains at the heart of the new bill, and the government's key priority: "We will review online casino gambling's impact on pokies revenue after two years to ensure that community returns are still providing adequate funding for community and sports groups.
"This is an important piece of legislation that will bring online casino gambling under New Zealand law for the first time. I look forward to seeing it progress through the House."
Indeed, this latest update comes following an additional update from New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs, who handed out NZ$125,000 (US$39,000) in fines in early Q4 for inappropriate gambling advertisements and promotions.
New Zealand's Lottery Grants Board has been put forward to officially oversee the distribution of community returns from gambling revenue
