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Poker rooms allowed in New Zealand?
Quote from jackpot_jane on June 6, 2025, 7:57 amThinking about opening a wee card-room that just spreads poker, no pokies, no roulette, nothing. Quick Google didn’t give a straight answer and I don’t see any stand-alone rooms around the country, so I’m guessing the law says “nah bro”. Anyone actually looked into the rules, or even better run a room here?
Thinking about opening a wee card-room that just spreads poker, no pokies, no roulette, nothing. Quick Google didn’t give a straight answer and I don’t see any stand-alone rooms around the country, so I’m guessing the law says “nah bro”. Anyone actually looked into the rules, or even better run a room here?
Quote from card_counter on June 9, 2025, 4:14 amOnly places taking rake legally right now are the big casinos – SkyCity, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown. Everything else is either charity-licenced tourneys or straight up underground. Gambling Act 2003 locks it down: if the house makes money you need a casino licence, and those are capped at six nationwide.
Only places taking rake legally right now are the big casinos – SkyCity, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown. Everything else is either charity-licenced tourneys or straight up underground. Gambling Act 2003 locks it down: if the house makes money you need a casino licence, and those are capped at six nationwide.
Quote from spinmaster on June 10, 2025, 4:15 amIf it’s in Welly I’ll come play but yeah, you basically can’t charge rake outside a casino. Home games are chill if no one’s clipping the pot. The moment you take a dollar the DIA can whack you with an illegal-gambling charge
If it’s in Welly I’ll come play but yeah, you basically can’t charge rake outside a casino. Home games are chill if no one’s clipping the pot. The moment you take a dollar the DIA can whack you with an illegal-gambling charge
Quote from luckyduck on June 11, 2025, 4:32 amThere’s still “underground” rooms. Mate of mine deals at one on the North Shore, $1/$3 with an uncapped rake (gross). They last until the cops or the landlord get itchy. NZ Herald did a piece saying some of these joints clear 30k a week so you see why they pop up.
There’s still “underground” rooms. Mate of mine deals at one on the North Shore, $1/$3 with an uncapped rake (gross). They last until the cops or the landlord get itchy. NZ Herald did a piece saying some of these joints clear 30k a week so you see why they pop up.
Quote from randomguy on June 12, 2025, 6:24 amI asked DIA when our pub league wanted to run monthly freeze-outs. They told us it falls under Class 3 gambling once prize-pool or turnover breaks $5 k, so you need a short-term licence and all profits have to go to an “authorised purpose” like a sports club or charity. No good if you’re trying to run a business.
I asked DIA when our pub league wanted to run monthly freeze-outs. They told us it falls under Class 3 gambling once prize-pool or turnover breaks $5 k, so you need a short-term licence and all profits have to go to an “authorised purpose” like a sports club or charity. No good if you’re trying to run a business.
Quote from kai_love on June 13, 2025, 4:29 amOnly loophole people lean on is “social gaming”. Invite-only, private property, no entry fee, no rake. Then it’s basically a home game and DIA leaves you alone. The moment you advertise or rake, boom – illegal.
Only loophole people lean on is “social gaming”. Invite-only, private property, no entry fee, no rake. Then it’s basically a home game and DIA leaves you alone. The moment you advertise or rake, boom – illegal.
Quote from spinmaster on June 16, 2025, 4:27 amNot your lawyer etc, but the short version:
- Casino licence or nothing if you want to profit. The Act froze the number of licences at the 2003 level.
- Charitable tourneys possible but money can’t go in your pocket.
- Social poker okay so long as it’s genuinely non-profit.
Setting up a commercial card-room is, realistically, off the table until Parliament rewrites the Act – and right now they’re busy looking at online i-gaming for 2026, not bricks-and-mortar card rooms.
Not your lawyer etc, but the short version:
- Casino licence or nothing if you want to profit. The Act froze the number of licences at the 2003 level.
- Charitable tourneys possible but money can’t go in your pocket.
- Social poker okay so long as it’s genuinely non-profit.
Setting up a commercial card-room is, realistically, off the table until Parliament rewrites the Act – and right now they’re busy looking at online i-gaming for 2026, not bricks-and-mortar card rooms.
Quote from jackpot_jane on June 17, 2025, 3:39 amSweet as, appreciate the knowledge bombs. Sounds like I’ll save the business plan for another lifetime and just stick to the Wednesday home game.
Sweet as, appreciate the knowledge bombs. Sounds like I’ll save the business plan for another lifetime and just stick to the Wednesday home game.