Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Gambling Act 2003

Harm prevention and minimisation, enforcement, and other matters - Age restriction on certain gambling

303: Age restriction on gambling in casinos

You could also call this:

"No gambling in casinos if you're under 20"

Illustration for Gambling Act 2003

If you are under 20 years old, you commit an offence if you gamble in a casino or are found in the gambling area of a casino. You can get a fine of up to $500 if you are found guilty of this offence. The casino is also responsible for making sure you do not gamble or enter the gambling area if you are under 20.

If the casino lets you gamble or enter the gambling area when you are under 20, they commit an offence. They can get a fine of up to $5,000 if they are found guilty of this offence. It is a defence for the casino if they can prove they had reasonable grounds to believe you were 20 years or over.

The casino can prove they had reasonable grounds to believe you were 20 years or over if they saw a document that showed your age, such as an ID. This means the casino will not be guilty of an offence if they checked your age and thought you were old enough to gamble. You should know that the casino has to make sure you are 20 years or over to gamble or enter the gambling area.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM210237.

Topics:
Money and consumer rights > GamblingCrime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

302: Age restriction on class 4 gambling, or

"No gambling for people under 18 years old"

Next

304: Power to require particulars, or

"Telling authorities who you are if they think you've broken gambling laws"

Part 4Harm prevention and minimisation, enforcement, and other matters
Age restriction on certain gambling

303Age restriction on gambling in casinos

  1. Every person under 20 years commits an offence who—

  2. participates in casino gambling; or
    1. is found in the gambling area of a casino.

      1. Every holder of a casino operator’s licence commits an offence who allows a person under 20 years—

      2. to participate in casino gambling; or
        1. to enter, or remain in, the gambling area of a casino.

          1. It is a defence to a charge under subsection (2) if the defendant proves that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that the person to whom the charge relates was 20 years or over.

          2. Without limiting subsection (3), reasonable grounds exist for the purposes of that subsection if the defendant proves that the defendant had sighted an evidence of age document of the person to whom the charge relates, indicating that the person was 20 years or over.

          3. Every person who commits an offence—

          4. against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500:
            1. against subsection (2) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.

              Compare
              • 1990 No 62 s 105
              Notes
              • Section 303(3): amended, on , by section 97 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).
              • Section 303(4): amended, on , by section 97 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).
              • Section 303(5)(a): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
              • Section 303(5)(b): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).