Gambling Act 2003

Gambling - Licensing of casino gambling - Operation of casinos

172: Restricted hours of operation

You could also call this:

"Casinos can't open on certain public holidays or at certain times"

If you have a casino licence, you cannot have casino gambling on Christmas Day, Good Friday, or on Anzac Day between 3 am and 1 pm. If you break this rule, you can get a fine of up to $10,000. The Governor-General can make rules about when and how casinos can operate, but these rules cannot override the ones already in place.

The Governor-General's rules can add more restrictions to the existing ones. These rules are called secondary legislation, and you can learn more about what this means by looking at Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. The Governor-General makes these rules with an Order in Council.

When the Governor-General makes these rules, they must follow certain publication requirements, which are explained in the Legislation Act 2019.

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This page was last updated on 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM209351.

Topics:

Money and consumer rights > GamblingCrime and justice > Criminal law

171: Appeal to Gambling Commission regarding certificate of approval, or

"Appealing a decision about your gambling certificate to the Gambling Commission"

173: On-licences under Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, or

"Licence to sell alcohol in a casino"

Part 2Gambling
Licensing of casino gambling: Operation of casinos

172Restricted hours of operation

A holder of a casino licence must not conduct casino gambling on Christmas Day, Good Friday, or on Anzac Day between the hours of 3 am and 1 pm.
A holder of a casino licence who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing the days on, and the hours during, which a licensed casino may conduct casino gambling and the activities that may be undertaken.
Regulations made under subsection (3) must not override subsection (1) but may impose restrictions that are additional to the restrictions in that subsection.
Regulations under subsection (3) are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Compare

1990 No 62 s 61

Notes

Section 172(2): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 172(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).