The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



Regulations 

Regulations have been made under the Gambling Act 2003 to help achieve the objectives of the Act. Regulations apply to individuals and organisations that are authorised to operate gambling. 

On this page 

Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023

These regulations came into force on 15 June 2023 and are commencing in three phases throughout the 2023 calendar year. The regulations apply to class 4 venues (pubs, clubs and TABs with electronic gaming machines) and societies. The regulations set out standard training and procedural obligations for identifying and responding to problem gambling.

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Gambling (Infringement Notices) Amendment Regulations 2023

These regulations came into force on 15 July 2023. These regulations amend the Gambling (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2004, to modernise the available methods of payment of infringement fees.

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Gambling (Infringement Offences) Regulations 2023

These regulations came into force on 15 June 2023. The regulations apply to class 4 venues (pubs, clubs and TABs with electronic gaming machines) and societies. These regulations introduce infringement offences and fees for failures to comply with regulations in the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023. The infringement offences cover compliance failures relating to jackpot branding, advertising, and problem gambling information in venues.

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Gambling (Infringement Offences) Amendment Regulations 2023

These regulations come into force on 1 December 2023. The regulations apply to class 4 venues (pubs, clubs and TABs with electronic gaming machines) and societies. These regulations introduce further infringement offences and fees for failure to comply with regulations in the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023. The infringement offences cover compliance failures relating to venue layouts, training, procedures for identifying and responding to problem gambling, and record keeping.

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Gambling (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2023

These regulations came into force on 1 July 2023. The regulations apply to class 4 venues (pubs, clubs and TABs with electronic gaming machines) and societies. These regulations clarify that fees are only payable on active gaming machines, and not on machines that are inactive.

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Gambling (Problem Gambling Levy) Regulations 2019

These regulations came into force on 1 July 2019. The regulations apply to pub and club gaming machine, casino, New Zealand Racing Board and New Zealand Lotteries Commission profits. The levy reimburses the Crown for the cost of problem gambling services delivered by the Ministry of Health. 
 
The levy rates are payable for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022 (both dates inclusive). 

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Gambling (Venue Payments) Regulations 2016 

These regulations specify the amount that Class 4 societies can pay to venues for hosting gaming machines. Venues receive a commission payment based on the weekly turnover through the machines. 

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Gambling (Fees) Regulations 2015 

These regulations stipulate the fees that apply for licences and approvals under the Act. The fees also contribute to the Department of Internal Affairs' compliance activity and the Gambling Commission. 

Amendments 

  • 1 July 2020 — allows a freeze on class 4 venue fees at 2019/20 levels and a short-term fee waiver on some fees for class 4 gambling operators and casinos (related to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic) 

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Gambling (Non-gambling Activities) Regulations 2013 

These regulations declare lotteries known as spot prize competitions not to be gambling for the purposes of the Gambling Act 2003. 

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Gambling (Class 4 Banking) Regulations 2006 

These regulations apply to all Class 4 gambling venues and stipulate that venue managers must bank gaming machine profits weekly. 

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Gambling (Prohibited Property) Regulations 2005 

The regulations set out which property must not be offered as a reward for, or used to reward a winner of, gambling. 

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Gambling (Licensed Promoters) Regulations 2005 

Licensed Promoters conduct gambling for a society. A society can employ a Licensed Promoter only for Class 3 gambling. 

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Racing (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 

Separate regulations for prevention and minimisation of harm have been created for the New Zealand Racing Board. 

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Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 

The harm prevention and minimisation regulations apply to game machines in pubs and clubs and casinos. 

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Gambling (Class 4 Net Proceeds) Regulations 2004 

The Class 4 net proceeds regulations apply to Class 4 operators. The regulations set out requirements for the retention of certain records and management of gambling equipment and for the application and distribution of net proceeds. 

Amendments 

  • 1 July 2020 — to temporarily suspend some requirements and include a new regulation to improve the liquidity of the class 4 sector. 
  • 4 August 2014 — to replace regulation 10 (minimum amount of net proceeds to be distributed for authorised purposes). 
  • 15 August 2011 — to remove the prohibition on multi-year grants from gaming machine profits. There are also additional requirements to ensure compliance with the Gambling Act 2003, and to help mitigate various risks if multi-year grant commitments are made. 

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Gambling (Forms) Regulations 2004 

These regulations specify an application form for casino certificates of approval and the warrant of appointment for Gambling Regulators. 

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Gambling (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2004

These regulations set out the requirements for the forms that must be used for issuing infringement notices and reminder notices, under sections 357 and 358 of the Act.

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