New Zealand faces calls for tougher action on offshore casino advertising

New Zealand's Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) has called for tighter restrictions on overseas gambling operators. The group says stronger enforcement is needed as operators continue to advertise illegally to New Zealanders.

PGF Advocacy Director Andree Froude said offshore operators had used social media, influencers, inducements and other promotional methods to build awareness of their gambling sites despite existing restrictions.

The concerns come as New Zealand prepares to introduce a regulated online casino market. Eleven entities recently secured the right to apply for the 15 licences available under the new framework.

Froude said the country's current gambling advertising framework was complicated by different rules applying to different operators. Offshore online casinos are currently prohibited from advertising to New Zealanders, while TAB and Lotto advertising is subject to separate arrangements, including Advertising Standards Authority oversight.

The foundation also raised concerns about gambling advertising reaching people experiencing or recovering from gambling-related harm. Reports have included former gamblers continuing to receive online casino advertising and inducements intended to encourage them to resume gambling. 

Froude argued that penalties alone would not be sufficient unless the Department of Internal Affairs had the resources to monitor operators and take enforcement action when breaches occurred.

She also said operators' compliance with existing New Zealand laws should be considered during the licensing process, with breaches resulting in penalties where appropriate. 

The foundation ultimately supports a prohibition on gambling advertising as a harm-prevention measure, rather than relying solely on restrictions around how operators market their services.

New Zealand's forthcoming licensing regime will introduce new advertising requirements for authorised online casinos, with 11 applicants currently under review for 15 licences. The effectiveness of those measures, according to the foundation, will depend on how consistently regulators monitor and enforce compliance once the regulated market begins.