Gambling regulation and scams writer
Nicola Kirkwood, from Dunedin, writes BonusOut's guides on gambling regulation and scams in New Zealand. She started out in administration at a local authority, handling licence applications and bylaw paperwork. There she supported a review of the rules for gambling venues, read the public submissions and noticed how rarely anyone asked about online gambling. She later handled customer complaints at a financial services provider. Since 2020 she has written about how gambling is regulated in New Zealand, what a licence does and does not tell a player, and how to spot a site that is not what it claims to be. She also checks the regulation sections of BonusOut's reviews. Her guides give general information and are not legal advice.
As at 6 October 2026, the rules for deposit limits at online casinos in New Zealand require a licensed operator to offer deposit, spend and time limits, wait at least 24 hours before raising one and refuse credit cards. This guide explains each rule.
Online casino advertising in New Zealand is allowed only in accordance with a licence, and as at 8 October 2026 DIA has reported none as issued. This guide explains who the ban covers, how DIA enforces it, what licensed operators will be able to advertise and where to report an ad.
Online casino closing NZ: what to do with your account and balance when a site says it is leaving. Steps first, then what the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 covers, who to complain to and which messages to treat with care.
The legal gambling age NZ law sets depends on the game: 18 for online casinos, pokies, the TAB and Instant Kiwi, 20 in a casino, and a Lotto change due by 29 March 2027. This guide sets out each age, the section behind it and who has to check it, as at 8 October 2026.
How to check an online casino licence in NZ: as at 8 October 2026 the Department of Internal Affairs has issued none and its public register is not published. This guide sets out the check the Act describes, the role of the registration icon and what does not prove a licence.
As at 8 October 2026 no online casino licence has been issued in New Zealand, so the route to complain about an online casino is still forming. This guide shows who to write to, in what order, and what each step can and cannot do.
How many people in New Zealand are harmed by gambling, and how much do New Zealanders lose? It sets out the New Zealand Gambling Survey 2023/24 and the Department of Internal Affairs expenditure figures, with intervals, sources and the limits of the data. Sources were read on 6 October 2026.
Is online gambling legal in New Zealand? The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is written for operators and advertisers. This guide sets out what each rule covers and what depends on a licence, as at 8 October 2026.
How do you report a gambling scam in NZ? Tell your bank first, then Police on 105 and Netsafe, and go to the Banking Ombudsman Scheme if you and the bank cannot agree. The guide explains what to say and what each step can and cannot do.
A fake online casino NZ readers search for is a site or ad that borrows the name of a brand it does not belong to. This guide sets out what SkyCity, the Department of Internal Affairs, Netsafe and the NCSC have published, the warning signs, and where to report a scam ad.
Where can you get free help with gambling in New Zealand? This guide sets out what the Gambling Helpline offers, which number is for what, how free counselling works, and where family and friends can find support.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 has been in force since 1 May 2026, with licences from DIA and new rules from 1 December 2026. This guide sets out the key dates and what each rule means for a player’s account, as at 6 October 2026.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 allows up to 15 online casino licences in New Zealand, and DIA has issued none as at 8 October 2026. This guide sets out the three stages, the key dates, what changes on 1 December 2026 and what is still not known.
As at 6 October 2026, self-exclusion from online casinos in New Zealand works one site at a time. This guide explains what the new Act requires of licensed operators, what a national register would change, and what you can do today.
Are gambling winnings taxable in NZ? Inland Revenue says raffle, Lotto and TAB race winnings are generally not taxable, unless they are won as part of a taxable activity. Its page does not name online casinos. This guide shows where it stops and who to ask.
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