The purpose of the Gambling Act
The purpose of the Gambling Act is to:
- control the growth of gambling
- prevent and minimise the harm caused by gambling, including problem gambling
- authorise some gambling and prohibit the rest
- facilitate responsible gambling
- ensure the integrity and fairness of games
- limit opportunities for crime or dishonesty associated with gambling
- ensure that money from gambling benefits the community
- facilitate community involvement in decisions about the provision of gambling.
Read the Gambling Act 2003 on the New Zealand legislation website
The Problem Gambling Levy
Problem gambling services are funded through a levy on the profits made by gambling operators.
The levy is set every three years following consultation on the Ministry’s needs assessment, strategy, and service plan.
The Ministry presents its recommendations to Ministers of Health and Internal Affairs and the Minister for Mental Health. These pieces of work are presented, along with the proposed levy rates for industry sectors, to the Gambling Commission.
The Commission then makes its own recommendations on the problem gambling levy amount and rates to the Ministers of Health and Internal Affairs and the Minister for Mental Health, who have the final decision on what rates to propose to Cabinet.
The levy is set with the formula used for calculating the levy rates for each sector specified by the Gambling Act 2003. The levy is calculated using rates of player expenditure (losses) and rates of people receiving problem gambling services for each gambling subsector. The levy is collected on the profits of New Zealand’s four main gambling operators: gaming machines in pubs and clubs, casinos, TAB NZ and the New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
The Department of Internal Affairs publishes gambling player expenditure statistics.
New Zealand Legislation publishes the Gambling Act which contains the formula used to calculate the levy rates.
The Ministry of Health publishes gambling harm intervention services data.
Roles of health entities
Implementing the Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm is a shared responsibility between the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand.
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and implementing the integrated problem gambling strategy. It monitors progress against the strategy, provides policy advice on preventing and minimising gambling harm and conducts research about gambling so we can learn more and identify approaches that will work best to address problem gambling.
Health New Zealand
Health New Zealand is responsible for funding and commissioning problem gambling services, and evaluating how well those services are performing.
Other entities
Department of Internal Affairs
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) administers the rules and regulations for gambling in Aotearoa. It monitors the gambling industry to ensure that the rules and regulations are followed and that all gambling is in accordance with the Gambling Act. As part of its regulatory role, DIA prevents and minimises gambling harm through regulation, licencing, compliance and enforcement.
Territorial/local authorities
All territorial/local authorities are required to have policies for gambling venues (‘pokie’ venues and TAB venues) in their districts. New gaming machine and TAB sites need territorial authority approval and all gaming machine sites need territorial authority approval to increase their number of machines.
These policies must be reviewed during every three-year period and communities must be involved in the process.
DIA, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, has developed a resource to assist territorial authorities when reviewing their class 4 gambling venue policies. It is available on DIA’s website.
Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission is an independent statutory decision-making body established under the Gambling Act 2003.
The Commission hears casino licensing applications and appeals on licensing and enforcement decisions made by the Secretary of Internal Affairs in relation to gaming machines and other non-casino gambling activities.
The Commission also consults with all affected groups on the proposed problem gambling levy rates and makes recommendations to the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Health on the levy amounts.
