Beyond the player protection measures that New Zealand’s new Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is set to bring in, the Act contains some of the strictest advertising rules in the world, too.
Under the Act, operators will be prohibited from targeting players under the age of 25, and there will be a full ban on influencer marketing, affiliate marketing, and jackpot advertising.
Bonus and promotional offers will also be capped at NZ$100 or 200% of a deposit, and direct marketing is restricted to registered users only. Adverts are not allowed to appear on the front pages of any print publications or on public transport, and newly-imposed broadcast restrictions ban gambling advertising during live events, as well as in the 30-minute windows before and after such events are aired.
New Zealand’s declared online casino revenue for the year ending 30 June 2025 reached a whopping NZ$520.8 million – and, don’t forget, until now, that money has mostly been flowing through offshore operators – with almost zero local oversight.
The new regulatory framework is a million miles from the previous position under which casinos based in New Zealand couldn’t secure local licences, but Kiwis were free to play at offshore sites. Starting later this year, that changes, and a limited number of licensees will be able to accept New Zealand players legally, with a lot of additional rules and regulations surrounding.
It remains to be seen how casino review comparison websites will adapt to the changes, but there’s clearly some uncertainty with how the new advertising rules will affect all types of online gambling businesses targeting New Zealand – and updates from the government will be eagerly awaited.
One of the world’s most popular slot developers, Play’n Go, has released its latest pokie this week, taking players under the sea for a colourful and comedy-driven adventure, Shark Feast. This brand new online pokie is set against the backdrop of a fictional neon jellyfish festival, and most of the action centres on Jawsome Joe, […]
Spain have won the 2026 World Cup, triumphing over Argentina with a 1-0 score in the final that took place at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Ferran Torres was the author of the sole goal in the 106th minute, bringing the Spanish second World Cup triumph. Nevertheless, the result of the match was also […]
Powerball’s $30 million jackpot – the biggest prize we’ve seen so far in 2026 – went unclaimed in Saturday night’s draw and now rolls over to Wednesday, the 22nd of July. No winning ticket matched Powerball First Division on the 18th of July, but one lucky player did win $1 million in Lotto First Division. […]
