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Gambling Act 2003
Preliminary provisions
4A: Modification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19

Part 1:
Preliminary provisions

2Commencement 3Purpose 4Interpretation 4AModification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19 4AModification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19 5Extended meaning of conduct 5AMeaning of net proceeds 6Multi-terminal and multi-player gaming machines 7Meaning of significant influence in casino 8Secretary may seek information to assess influence 8AATransitional, savings, and related provisions 8AAct binds the Crown

Part 2:
Gambling

Prohibitions and authorisations

9Gambling prohibited 10No more casinos 11No increase in casino gambling 12What is increase in casino gambling 13No compensation 14Legality of gambling contracts 15Providing credit for gambling prohibited 16Advertising overseas gambling prohibited 17Regulations may restrict or prohibit prizes 17ARetail value of non-cash prize must be stated 18Sales promotion schemes authorised 19Offences

Classes of gambling

Licensing of class 3 gambling

Applications for class 3 operator’s licence

35Application for class 3 operator’s licence 36Secretary must investigate applicant for class 3 operator’s licence

Grant of class 3 operator’s licence

37Grounds for granting class 3 operator’s licence 38Content and conditions of class 3 operator’s licence 38AContinuing obligations of class 3 operator 39Significant changes in relation to class 3 operator’s licence must be notified 40Change of purpose and winding up provisions of holder of class 3 operator’s licence ineffective without approval

Renewal or amendment of class 3 operator’s licence

41Renewal of class 3 operator’s licence 42Amending class 3 operator’s licence

Suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 3 operator’s licence

43Suspension or cancellation of class 3 operator’s licence 44Procedure for suspending, cancelling, or refusing to amend or renew class 3 operator’s licence 45Consequences of suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 3 operator’s licence 46Appeal to Gambling Commission regarding class 3 operator’s licence 47Consequences of appeal regarding class 3 operator’s licence

Other matters

48Surrender of class 3 operator’s licence 49Class 3 operator’s licence not transferable

Licensing of class 4 gambling

Applications for class 4 operator’s licence

50Application for class 4 operator’s licence 51Secretary must investigate applicant for class 4 operator’s licence

Grant of class 4 operator’s licence

52Grounds for granting class 4 operator’s licence 52ACircumstances in which corporate society may apply net proceeds to authorised purpose 53Content and conditions of class 4 operator’s licence 53AContinuing obligations of class 4 operator 54Significant changes in relation to class 4 operator’s licence must be notified 55Change of purpose and winding up provisions of holder of class 4 operator’s licence ineffective without approval

Renewal or amendment of class 4 operator’s licence

56Renewal of class 4 operator’s licence 57Amending class 4 operator’s licence

Suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 4 operator’s licence

58Suspension or cancellation of class 4 operator’s licence 59Procedure for suspending, cancelling, or refusing to amend or renew class 4 operator’s licence 60Consequences of suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 4 operator’s licence 61Appeal to Gambling Commission regarding class 4 operator’s licence 62Consequences of appeal regarding class 4 operator’s licence

Other matters

63Surrender of class 4 operator’s licence 64Class 4 operator’s licence not transferable

Applications for class 4 venue licence

65Application for class 4 venue licence 66Secretary must investigate applicant for class 4 venue licence

Grant of class 4 venue licence

67Grounds for granting class 4 venue licence 68Determining suitability for class 4 venue licence 69Form and content of class 4 venue agreement 69AContinuing obligations of corporate society in relation to class 4 venue licence 70Content and conditions of class 4 venue licence 71Significant changes in relation to class 4 venue licence must be notified

Renewal or amendment of class 4 venue licence

72Renewal of class 4 venue licence 73Amending class 4 venue licence

Suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 4 venue licence

74Suspension or cancellation of class 4 venue licence 75Procedure for suspending, cancelling, or refusing to amend or renew class 4 venue licence 76Consequences of suspension, cancellation, or refusal to amend or renew class 4 venue licence 77Appeal to Gambling Commission regarding class 4 venue licence 78Consequences of appeal regarding class 4 venue licence

Other matters

79Surrender of class 4 venue licence 80Class 4 venue licence not transferable 81Complaints to Secretary 82Certain information must be displayed at class 4 venue 83Obligation on disposal of gaming machines 84Prohibition on certain gaming machines in class 4 venue

Disabling gambling equipment and electronic monitoring of gaming machines

85Disabling gambling equipment 86Holder of class 4 operator’s licence must connect to electronic monitoring system 87Functions of electronic monitoring system 88Secretary may select monitor

Particular limits on numbers of gaming machines

89Notification required 90Register of class 4 venue licences must be maintained 91No compensation 92Limit on number of gaming machines for which class 4 venue licence held on 17 October 2001 93Limit on number of gaming machines for which class 4 venue licence granted after 17 October 2001 but before commencement 94Limit on number of gaming machines for venue with venue licence granted after commencement 95Ministerial discretion to permit more gaming machines if clubs merge 96Ministerial discretion to permit more than 9 machines at certain class 4 venues 97Power to issue, renew, or amend class 4 licence may be overridden 97AEffect of relocation

Territorial authority consent

98When territorial authority consent required 99Application for territorial authority consent 100Considering and determining application for territorial authority consent 101Territorial authority must adopt class 4 venue policy 102Adoption and review of class 4 venue policy 103Provision of information relating to class 4 venues in territorial authority district

Net proceeds and costs of class 4 gambling

104Gaming machine profits must be banked 105Interest, etc, on gaming machine profits 105AManagement of gaming machine profits bank account 106Corporate society must apply or distribute net proceeds from class 4 gambling to or for authorised purpose 107Corporate society must provide annual report to Secretary 108Contents of annual report 108AAudit must be carried out in accordance with auditing and assurance standards 108BClubs that operate gambling equipment at non-commercial class 4 venues must make financial statements available to members 108COther corporate societies must make financial statements available on Internet 109Annual review of criteria for distribution of net proceeds 110Publication requirements for corporate societies 111Application or distribution of net proceeds when corporate society ceases class 4 gambling 112Orders regarding application or distribution of net proceeds 113Key persons must not be involved in certain activities or decisions 114Regulations regarding application or distribution of net proceeds from class 4 gambling 115Payment of commission prohibited 115ADuty on grant recipients 116Secretary may limit or exclude operating costs of corporate society 117Secretary may investigate and audit licensees, grant recipients, management services providers, and businesses at class 4 venues 118Certain persons must not seek, receive, or offer benefits with improper conditions attached

Licensing of casino gambling

General provisions

119Requirements for casino gambling 120Racing betting and sports betting in casinos 121Casino branding 122Existing casino licences and agreements 123Directions as to operating casinos 124Suitability requirements 125Gambling Commission must investigate application concerning casino licences 126Mortgage or assignment of casino licence 127Casino licence not transferable

Casino operator’s licence

128Application for casino operator’s licence 129Consideration of application 130Grant of casino operator’s licence 131Expiry of casino operator’s licence

Casino venue agreements

132Approval of casino venue agreement 133Consideration of application

Renewal of casino venue licence

134Application for renewal of casino venue licence 135Process for determining applications for renewal 136Information and matters to be considered 137Renewal of casino venue licence 138Expiry of casino venue licence

Amendment of casino licence

139Conditions of casino licence 140Procedure for specifying, varying, or revoking casino licence conditions 141Minimum operating standards in casino licences 142Procedure for specifying, varying, or revoking minimum operating standards 143Appeal to Gambling Commission

Suspension, cancellation, and surrender of casino licence

144Suspension or cancellation of casino licence 145Procedure for suspending or cancelling casino licence 146Notification of suspension and cancellation 147Surrender of casino licence 148Appeal against cancellation or suspension

Associated persons

149Approval for associated persons required 150Appeal to Gambling Commission 151Responsibilities of person who acquires significant influence without approval 152Licensee to seek prior approval 153Responsibility of licensee aware of person with significant influence 154Affected transactions 155Review of associated persons by Secretary 156Actions that may be taken by Gambling Commission

Certificates of approval

Operation of casinos

172Restricted hours of operation 173On-licences under Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 174Charges to enter and play not permitted 175Information for customers 176Training for employees 177Books must be kept in casino venue 178Gambling equipment must be kept in casino venue 179Obligation on disposal of gaming machines 180Prohibition on certain gaming machines in casino 181Restriction on certain agreements 182Review of agreements 183Procedure after issue of notice 184Consequences of termination of agreement 185Bank may be required to provide information 186Investigation of complaints 187Temporary authority

Licensed promoters of class 3 gambling

188Society may engage licensed promoter 189Licensed promoter may only promote licensed class 3 gambling activity 190Existing licensed promoter licences

Applications for licensed promoter’s licence

191Eligibility for licensed promoter’s licence 192Application for licensed promoter’s licence 193Notice of licence application 194Objections

Bond

195Applicant must provide bond given by approved surety 196When bond must be paid to Secretary 197Secretary may appoint administrator 198Compensation claims 199Consideration and payment of claims

Grant of licensed promoter’s licence

200Secretary must investigate applicant for licensed promoter’s licence 201Grounds for granting licensed promoter’s licence 202Secretary must notify Police if licence granted 203Content and conditions of licensed promoter’s licence 203ASignificant changes in relation to licensed promoter’s licence must be notified 204Secretary must keep register of licensed promoters

Renewal or amendment of licensed promoter’s licence

205Renewal of licensed promoter’s licence 205AAmending licensed promoter’s licence

Suspension, cancellation, or refusal to renew licensed promoter’s licence

206Suspension or cancellation of licensed promoter’s licence 207Procedure for suspending, cancelling, or refusing to renew licensed promoter’s licence 208Consequences of suspension, cancellation, or refusal to renew licensed promoter’s licence 209Appeal to Gambling Commission regarding licensed promoter’s licence 210Consequences of appeal regarding licensed promoter’s licence

Trust account

211Licensed promoter must have trust account 212Trust account must be audited 213Licensed promoter must render account to society

Other matters

214Surrender of licensed promoter’s licence 215Temporary licence 216Revocation of temporary licence 217Incomplete promotions 218Licensed promoter’s licence not transferable 219Regulations relating to licensed promoters

Part 3:
Institutions

Gambling Commission

220Establishment of Gambling Commission 221Membership 222Appointment criteria 223Termination of appointment of Gambling Commissioner 224Functions of Gambling Commission 225Gambling Commission is Commission of Inquiry 225AProtection of Gambling Commission and Department 226Gambling Commission may engage experts and receive wide evidence 227Gambling Commission may sit in divisions 228Department must service Gambling Commission 229Gambling Commission must provide annual report to Minister 230Remuneration of Gambling Commissioners 231Disclosure of interests 232Corrupt use of official information 233Other enactments applying to Gambling Commission 234Schedule 3 applies to Gambling Commission 235Appeals 235ANo review of Secretary's decisions concerning class 3 or class 4 gambling until right of appeal exercised

New Zealand Lotteries Commission

236New Zealand Lotteries Commission 237Crown entity status 238Functions of Lotteries Commission 239Capacity and powers 240Board of Lotteries Commission 241Further provisions about Lotteries Commission 242Ministerial directions

Operation of New Zealand lotteries

243Lottery rules 244Minister may require Lotteries Commission products to comply with regulations and minimum standards 245Special purpose lotteries 246Lotteries Commission may determine additional prizes 247Lottery proceeds 248Method of drawing lottery 249Scrutiny of drawings and allocations 250Drawings to be open to public at discretion of Lotteries Commission 251Official result 252Lottery prize fund 253Entitlement to prizes 254Claims to lottery prizes 255No entitlement to interest 256Unclaimed prizes

Financial provisions relating to Lotteries Commission

257Funds of Lotteries Commission 258Bank accounts 259Estimates of income and expenditure 260Borrowing powers 261Loans 262Investment of funds 263Payment of profits 264Exemption from income tax 265Financial year 266Accounts and audit

Other matters

267Protection of name 268Protection of product names 269Contracts with other bodies 270Accounts of bodies assisting Lotteries Commission and audit of accounts

Transitional provision

271Members of Lotteries Commission continue in office

New Zealand Lottery Grants Board

272New Zealand Lottery Grants Board 273Members and procedure 274Function of Board 275Powers of Board 276Amounts available for allocation by Board 277Purposes for which profits may be distributed 278Distributions by Minister 279Allocation of profits to certain statutory bodies

Distribution committees

280Distribution committees 281Functions of distribution committees

Applications for grants

282Applications for assistance 283Payments of grants 284Subsidies and loans 285Secretary is corporation sole for certain purposes

Financial provisions relating to Board and distribution committees

286Bank accounts 287Investment of money 288Loans to Lotteries Commission 289Miscellaneous expenditure 290Accounts of profits and audit 291Crown entity

Miscellaneous provisions

292Appointment of officers 293Remuneration of members of Board and distribution committees 294Protection of members, distribution committees, and employees 295Annual report

Transitional provision

296Transitional provision

Casino Control Authority

297Casino Control Authority abolished 298Consequences of dissolution 299Third parties 300Employees of Authority

Part 4:
Harm prevention and minimisation, enforcement, and other matters

Age restriction on certain gambling

301Age restriction on instant games and similar games 302Age restriction on class 4 gambling 303Age restriction on gambling in casinos 304Power to require particulars 305Gambling operator must refuse to pay under-age person 306Court may order return of money or prize

Admission to venues

307Admission to class 4 venue and casino venue 308Requirement to develop policy for identifying problem gamblers 309Exclusion order may be issued to problem gambler identified under section 308 309ADuty to assist problem gambler if ongoing concern exists 310Exclusion order must be issued to self-identified problem gambler 311Requirement to remove person who enters gambling venue in breach of exclusion order 312Offences relating to breach of exclusion order 312ADuty to keep record of excluded persons

Regulations relating to harm prevention and minimisation

313Regulations relating to harm prevention and minimisation 314Regulations relating to gaming machines in class 4 venue 315Regulations relating to admission to and exclusion from gambling area of class 4 venue and casino venue 316Regulations relating to exclusion of problem gamblers

Problem gambling levy

317Integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health 318Process for developing integrated problem gambling strategy 319Regulations relating to problem gambling levy 319AProblem gambling levy regulations are confirmable instrument 320Calculating levy 320ALevy may be calculated for period of less than 3 years 321Initial levy 322Early reconsideration 323Collection 324Accountability 325Problem gambling committee

Minimum standards for gambling equipment

326Gambling equipment must comply with minimum standards 326ATemporary operation of gambling equipment for research or evaluation purposes 327Secretary may prescribe minimum standards 328Secretary must give notice of minimum standard

Transitional provision

329Transitional provision relating to gambling equipment

Gambling inspectors

330Secretary may appoint gambling inspectors 331Authority to act as gambling inspector 332Functions of gambling inspector 333Power of gambling inspector to require information or documents 334Power of gambling inspector to enter and demand information 335Power of gambling inspector to seize equipment in casino venue 336Power of gambling inspector to seize equipment in public place 337Return of equipment seized under section 335 or section 336 338Other powers of gambling inspectors 339Functions and powers of Police

Search warrants

340Search warrants 341Form and content of search warrant 342Powers conferred by search warrant 343Requirements when executing search warrant 344Police may arrest persons found at place 345Disposal of things seized under search warrant

Other matters

346Obstructing gambling inspector 347Restriction on class 4 gambling by certain persons 348Restriction on gambling in casino by certain persons 349Gambling inspectors and Police not criminally liable

Transitional provision

350Transitional provision relating to gambling inspectors

Offences relating to gambling in casinos

351Cheating 352Being in possession of equipment for cheating 353Counterfeit chips

Proceedings, evidence, etc

354Relationship of this Part with Part 2 355Proceedings for offences

Infringement offences

356Infringement offences 357Issue of infringement notice 358Reminder notices 359Infringement fees 360Regulations relating to infringement offences

Evidence

361Evidence of gambling 362Evidence of bookmaking 363Forfeiture

Other matters

364Notification 365Information gathering 366Secretary may issue standard forms 367Power to make game rules 368Regulations relating to forms of gambling and gambling equipment 369Regulations relating to forms 370Regulations relating to fees 370ARegulations relating to offences 371Other regulations 372Consultation before regulation 373Amendments to Casino Control Act 1990 and Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977 374Amendments to other enactments 375Repeals and revocations 376Savings 377Decisions during transitional period

Schedule 1AA:
Transitional, savings, and related provisions

Schedule 1:
Conditions that may attach to casino licence

Schedule 2:
Minimum operating standards

Schedule 3:
Gambling Commission

Schedule 4:
New Zealand Lotteries Commission

Schedule 5:
New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and distribution committees

Schedule 6:
Infringement offences

Schedule 7:
Amendments to Casino Control Act 1990 and Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977

Schedule 8:
Amendments to Racing Act 2003

Schedule 9:
Amendments to other Acts

Gambling Act 2003

Preliminary provisions

4A: Modification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19

You could also call this:

"Temporary COVID-19 rule for online gambling"

The law has a special rule about remote interactive gambling because of COVID-19. This rule is part of the Gambling Act 2003. You need to know that this rule has been repealed, which means it is no longer in effect, as of the close of 31 October 2024.

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 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS631627.

Topics:

Money and consumer rights > Gambling

4: Interpretation, or

4A: Modification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19, or

"Temporary change to online gambling rules due to COVID-19"

Part 1Preliminary provisions

4AModification of definition of remote interactive gambling during specified period due to effects of COVID-19 (Repealed)

Notes

Section 4A: repealed, on the close of 31 October 2024, by section 4A(4).