Trade associations publish new code of Conduct for advertising

An advertising code in addition to government regulations

Legal providers of online games of Chance are already bound by government rules for their TV, radio and internet advertising by the new legislation. For example, they should not be aimed at Persons up to 24 years of age, should only be shown during the day and should not feature top athletes or other role models.

The Online gambling advertising code extends those rules with its own set of guidelines. For example, the code sets limits on the number of advertisements for gambling within a certain number of advertising blocks and prohibits the use of "urgent" advertising language for online casinos.

Also, companies should not suggest that gambling makes you happy, that it is good for your social status or that you have nothing to lose if you start playing for money.

The Consumer Association is not yet enthusiastic

However, the code does not go far enough for the Consumer Association: the association believes that providers still have too much room to focus their promotion on young people and other vulnerable target groups.

VAN Kansspelen and the VNLOK disagree with this criticism, and believe that their advertising code strongly counteracts problematic gambling and gambling addiction. As a result, the cooperation between the Consumers ' Union and the industry associations has been suspended for the time being, which means that providers are currently not obliged to adhere to the Online gambling advertising code.

The question is whether the advertising code will be made even stricter in the long term, or whether the Consumer Association will urge the New Zealand Gambling Authority to ban all advertising for online gambling.

Why New Zealand online casinos are becoming legal

The new casino licenses issued since 2021 make it legal to offer games of Chance online for the first time in history. In doing so, each provider must adhere to strict rules.

For example, casinos are not allowed to use the New Zealand language on their website and problem players must be registered with the CRUKS register (Central Register of exclusion of games of Chance), which means that they can no longer play at New Zealand casinos.

With the new legislation, which has been in the works for years, the government hopes to keep the New Zealand gambler away from the internet casinos that have been operating illegally from abroad for years and have become increasingly popular. The hope is that the consumer can be better protected against gambling problems and against fraud by rogue gambling sites.

These gambling game providers want to enter the market

The brand new VNLOK is a collaboration between the largest providers of online slot games for the New Zealand market. The New Zealand Lottery and Royal Vegas Casino , two companies that have received a new license from the Gambling Authority as of October 1, 2021.

Providers such as JOI Gaming and FPO New Zealand, parties that are reportedly still in the running for a license from the KSA, are also part of the VNLOK. In total, there are about 40 companies, including Hallmark , the Postcode Lottery, Jack's Casino and All Slots Casino , applied for a permit.

As of October 2021, ten companies have actually received a license and can therefore directly serve the New Zealand lover of online games of chance.