The Government’s new Online Casino Gambling Bill, currently under Select Committee review, is a step in the right direction toward creating a safer, fairer, and more transparent gambling environment for New Zealanders. As the country’s leading source of information on legal online gambling, we at PlayCasino.co.nz support the push to regulate offshore operators and introduce licensing, age checks, harm minimisation measures, and tax contributions.

But we believe the bill has a serious flaw: it makes no provision for the ongoing funding of community sport, which currently receives over NZ$170 million annually from gaming machine grants.

This gap in the legislation threatens the very fabric of Kiwi sport — the local clubs, youth teams, and community programmes that rely on consistent, ring-fenced funding from gambling grants. If licensed online operators are going to take market share away from the current retail sector, then it is only fair and responsible that they contribute back to the communities they serve.

We Believe in Smart Regulation That Gives Back

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The bill includes strong proposals for reducing harm, enforcing local oversight, and holding operators accountable. That’s excellent — and long overdue.

But regulation is not just about minimising harm. It’s also about maximising benefit. And right now, community sport stands to lose big.

As Martin Snedden, Chair of Cycling New Zealand, rightly put it:

“Sport has thrived for decades off the back of community gambling grants. It all goes to clubs, not professional sport.”

We couldn’t agree more. If these new offshore casinos are to be welcomed into our regulatory framework, then they must be required to support the public good, just like the domestic gaming trusts they’ll be replacing.

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Public Submissions Close 17 August – Let’s Make Our Voices Heard

This is not a done deal. The bill is still under Select Committee review, and the Government is accepting public submissions until 17 August. That means every New Zealander has a chance to weigh in and help shape the future of online gambling in Aotearoa.

We’re calling on our readers, our fellow players, sports lovers, parents, club organisers — everyone who cares about keeping our communities strong — to speak up.

We’ll be publishing a simple guide to help you make a submission quickly and easily. The more people who raise this issue, the harder it will be for lawmakers to ignore.

How We See It: Four Principles for a Better Gambling Bill

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1. Safer Gambling for Players
   We fully support age verification, harm prevention, and enforcement of responsible gambling standards.
2. Legal Options for Kiwis
   Licensing offshore operators gives Kiwis safe, controlled alternatives to the black-market casinos they’re already using.
3. Fair Play for Communities
   If operators are earning revenue from Kiwi players, they must return some of it to the grassroots clubs that hold our communities together.
4. Transparency for All
   Licensing is meaningless unless it comes with clear rules — and clear benefits — for the whole country.

We want the Online Casino Gambling Bill to succeed. We want safer play. But we won’t stay silent while community sport is pushed to the side.

We’ll Only Recommend Licensed, Responsible Operators

Once New Zealand’s online gambling market is regulated, we at PlayCasino.co.nz will only promote and review licensed casinos that meet the highest standards of safety, fairness, and transparency.

But we also want to see those operators contributing back — not just to tax revenue or harm services, but to the clubs and communities that make New Zealand what it is.

 Final Word: Gambling Should Be Safe — and It Should Give Back

This bill is a chance to build a future where gambling works for players and communities, not just for offshore companies.

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Let’s not miss that chance.

About PlayCasino.co.nz

PlayCasino.co.nz is New Zealand’s go-to platform for finding safe, legal, and high-quality online casinos. We help players compare casinos, understand payment options, claim free no deposit bonuses responsibly, claim free spins bonus, and stay informed about the latest casino news and regulations.

We’re committed to responsible gambling, local transparency, and promoting only trusted operators — now and after regulation. Find the list below.

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Casimba Gaming is proud to announce the launch of 247Bet, a dynamic new sportsbook brand designed to deliver a cutting-edge, multi-channel betting experience.

Casimba Gaming is a leading B2C and B2B iGaming provider, powering more than 20 casino brands with a full-stack platform, including over 6,000 titles from 75+ providers.

Speaking on the launch of 247Bet, Chief Product Officer Jon Liska said, “Building on the success of our leading casino offering, we’re expanding into sports betting to give our customers the ultimate choice in gaming entertainment. 247Bet will offer a seamless customer journey with modern user experiences, giving customers the ability to find the sports, markets, and content they want faster than ever.”

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Initially launching under White Hat Gaming’s UKGC licence, 247Bet will cater to the UK market, with strategic plans to expand under the MGA licence to additional markets where Casimba Gaming already operates.

Liska adds, “With 247Bet, we wanted to build a brand that feels fresh, intuitive, and engaging from the very first tap. Our initial focus is the UK, but we will be looking to expand this to wider European markets, key Nordic Sports, principal North American and other global markets.”

Known for its global footprint and with an established integration with White Hat Gaming’s casino platform, Altenar’s platform will be used to power the sportsbook product. Altenar provides a robust solution, equipped with promotional tools and features for a market-leading betting site.

To enhance player engagement, 247Bet is also leveraging Smartico’s industry-leading gamification technology and CRM functionality and is working in partnership with NetRefer to build a high-performing affiliate programme as a key acquisition channel.

Dersim Sylwan, CEO of Casimba Gaming added, “The launch of 247Bet is a proud moment for Casimba Gaming and a natural next step in our evolution. This bold move is part of our vision to create a hero brand with global appeal; delivering a world-class, multi-channel experience that excites players everywhere.”

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As part of the long-term strategy, Casimba Gaming is actively hiring a Sportsbook Product Manager to lead the brand’s promotional roadmap, content strategy, and overall performance.

To find out more, visit https://247bet.com/