The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

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Services › Casino and Non-Casino Gaming › Gambling in Pubs and Clubs (Class 4)

Gaming machines in pubs and clubs (i.e. outside a casino) represent 'Class 4' gambling, which the Gambling Act 2003 classifies as high-risk, high-turnover gambling. Class 4 gambling may only be conducted by a corporate society and only to raise money for an authorised (e.g. community and non-commercial) purpose.

Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Guidance

The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023 (Legislation website) are fully in force from 1 December 2023. These regulations amend the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 (the Harm Minimisation Regulations) (Legislation website).

The amendments to the Harm Minimisation Regulations strengthen harm minimisation requirements for non-casino pokies (class 4) venues.

Supporting your compliance

We have developed a number of educational resources to support your compliance with the Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004.

Webinar on Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Guidance 9 November 2023

Vicki Scott, Gambling Director and Ben Gamboni, Deputy Director Operations present the Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Guidance and answer questions from the sector.
Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Guidance November 2023

This guidance has been developed to help you comply with the new regulatory requirements.

Our guidance explains what societies, clubs, and venues will need to do to meet their obligations under the new regulations and demonstrate compliance.
Optional draft paper-based templates December 2023

The Department has developed a number of recording templates to support venues meet the requirements of the Harm Minimisation Regulations. These are optional and can be amended to meet the specific requirements of any venue.
Harm Minimisation Policy Template July 2024

This template policy sets out the Department’s view of the key elements of a compliant harm minimisation policy. It is just one example, societies and venues are encouraged to add to and adapt this template to their own circumstances, as long as their policy meets the key legal obligations outlined in the template.
Exclusion order form guidelines May 2021

These guidelines provide information on what should be included on your exclusion order form.

For more information: Reducing Pokies Harm 2023

Licensing criteria and requirements

All gambling on gaming machines in clubs and pubs must be conducted according to the Gambling Act 2003 , its regulations and related game rules. There are strict licensing criteria for organisations wanting to run gaming machines and for the venues at which those machines are operated.

Licensing application and payment processes

Tips for completing the forms and information about incomplete applications, payment processes, and how to lodge your application.

Licensing and compliance fees

Find a list of all the licensing fees for operators and venues, as well as monitoring and compliance fees.

Apply for your gambling licence online

Gambling Aotearoa allows you to streamline your licensing application process and manage your information online to make updates more efficiently.

You can find out more about Gambling Aotearoa and access training resources at: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Gambling-Aotearoa

Class 4 gambling forms

Find links to all the Class 4 gambling forms.

Licence conditions

Operator's licences and venue licences are subject to licence conditions issued under the Gambling Act 2003. These conditions accompany and form part of the licence. Any corporate society must comply with the requirements set out in the licence conditions. Non-compliance will put the society's licence at risk.

Key persons and suitability

The Gambling Act sets out strict suitability requirements for key persons involved in the operation of gaming machines. Details on who is considered a key person, what the requirements are, and what suitability checks are undertaken are available on the following factsheet:

Managing proceeds of gambling

Guidance on actual, reasonable and necessary expenditure

Class 4 operators may use the proceeds from gambling on actual, reasonable, and necessary (ARN) expenses arising from operating gambling. The requirement to ensure that expenditure is ARN is designed to ensure that class 4 gambling maximises community benefits and minimises operating costs.

The guidance provides explanations and examples to help class 4 gambling operators understand the law and the Department’s expectations as gambling regulator.

Webinar on ARN expenditure guidance:

Vicki Scott, Gambling Director and Andrew Henderson, Principal Advisor, Gambling system delve into ARN expenditure guidance and provide valuable insights and practical takeaways for class 4 gambling operators.

Authorised purposes

Class 4 corporate societies that are licensed to operate gaming machines must apply the net proceeds of the gaming operation to authorised purposes.
Authorised purposes are:
  • charitable purposes
  • non-commercial purposes that have community benefits
  • promoting, controlling and conducting race meetings.
A society must state what its regulations are, and the statement will be included on its licence. The use of funds for unauthorised purposes can lead to prosecution or licence cancellation.

Banking of Gaming Machine Profits

Section 104(1) of the Gambling Act 2003 (the Act) requires a class 4 venue manager to bank all gambling profits directly into a dedicated account for gaming machine profits. This is an important safeguard to protect the integrity of gaming funds. The following policies explain how “late” banking is treated by the Department, and what exceptional circumstances the Department may agree to waive the requirement for the venue operator to bank profits.

Guidance for clubs

Clubs are corporate societies under the Gambling Act who operate gambling machines at their premises, and apply proceeds to their own activities. Different rules apply to clubs than apply to other corporate societies (who manage gambling at privately held venues, and distribute funds to charities), and the Department has developed specific resources to support club compliance.

Class 4 gambling in clubs - booklet

The Class 4 gambling in clubs booklet is a guide for those who govern, manage or work for clubs with a licence to operate gaming machines in New Zealand. You will find information on the following topics:
  • Our licensing forms
  • Licence renewal
  • Key persons
  • Authorised purpose
  • Net Proceeds Committee
  • Gaming machine expenses
  • Cash float
  • Banking of GMP
  • Harm prevention and minimisation
  • Succession planning
  • Signage and gaming machine forms
  • Other types of gambling
  • Contact us

Record keeping for gambling operations (Clubs)

The Department has created the example Record Keeping for Gaming Operations (Monthly) Spreadsheet.

All clubs are encouraged to use the spreadsheet, which will help to:
  • easily identify funds available for Authorised Purposes each month
  • monitor the percentage of distributed Authorised Purposes on a monthly basis
  • understand the difference between Authorised Purposes and the Direct Costs of Gaming
  • avoid over-distribution of Authorised Purposes
  • complete the renewal application.

Guide to Procedure for Club Mergers

Section 95 of the Gambling Act 2003 sets out a sequence of steps that must be taken by clubs that intend to merge under the section 95 procedure and wish to apply to the Minister for approval to operate up to 30 machines.

Class 4 Game Rules

The Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules govern the playing and participation in Class 4 gambling that utilises gaming machines outside of casinos and the systems, processes, information and documentation associated with particular games.

The current Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules:

Class 4 Machine Operational Support

These Support Guidelines are not mandatory. They were developed by class 4 sector representatives in collaboration with the Department to assist gaming machine operators with their operations. In particular, the Support Guidelines will help venue operators ensure their gaming machine float remains intact.

Venue Transfers

View the step-by-step instructions:

The Role of Territorial Authorities

The Gambling Act allows territorial authorities or councils to manage the impacts and limit the opportunities for gambling in their communities.

Territorial authorities must adopt gambling policies and review these every three years. These policies can limit the number and location of class 4 venues in their districts, and limit how many gaming machines are permitted.

A corporate society must apply for territorial consent before it can establish new gaming machine venues or increase the number of machines that may be operated at existing venues.
This page provides information to help local and unitary councils through the processes of reviewing, developing and applying gambling policies
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