In a recent vote on a key online casino regulation bill in the New Zealand Parliament, the New Zealand Green Party sided with the ruling coalition and voted in support of the bill, sparking widespread attention in political circles and public opinion. The bill passed with 83 votes in favor and 39 against, despite the Labour Party and the Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori) collectively voting against it.
The bill is set to officially open the New Zealand online casino market from April 2026, allowing up to 15 licensed operators to go online, provided that the operators can demonstrate they have effective age verification systems and gambling harm prevention mechanisms during the application process.
Green Party: Support is "a small step in reducing harm," but far from the ultimate goal
Although this support for the bill procedurally means that the Green Party supports the opening of the casino market, the party has repeatedly emphasized its complex stance before and after the vote. Speaking on behalf of the Green Party, Interior Minister Benjamin Doyle stated:
"Currently, online gambling in New Zealand is largely unregulated, and while this bill is not the endpoint, it represents the first step towards adopting harm reduction technologies."
Doyle added that the Green Party will strive to push for further amendments to the bill during the select committee stage, particularly introducing stronger protective measures, enhancing industry accountability, and increasing community representation in the legislative process.
Call for a ban on advertising and ensuring financial transparency
The Green Party specifically calls for a complete ban on online casino advertising in the emerging iGaming market to prevent young people and vulnerable groups from being misled by marketing. At the same time, they also demand that the government ensure the transparency, public disclosure, and traceability of financial funds related to "problem gambling," to be used for genuinely effective prevention and rehabilitation services.
Background of the Bill: New Zealand takes the first step in gambling regulation reform
This online casino bill is proposed against the backdrop of a series of gambling regulation reforms recently undertaken by the New Zealand government. In early July this year, the Minister of Internal Affairs officially submitted the draft bill to the House of Representatives and initiated public consultations aimed at the industry.
Recently, the government just released a national "Gambling Harm Prevention Strategy" and introduced a new version of the "Racing Act," which will completely prohibit all forms of offshore sports betting platforms from providing services in New Zealand. These measures show that New Zealand is committed to establishing a legal, transparent, and responsible online gambling market structure.
The advancement of this bill symbolizes the official entry of the New Zealand iGaming market into the legislative initiation phase. The Green Party's "constructive participation," although controversial, also highlights a key reality: how to balance market opening with public health protection through institutional design in the absence of regulation is becoming a core issue in legislation.
