Problem Gambling Foundation urges tougher rules as offshore sites breach NZ ad laws

The Problem Gambling Foundation has highlighted a surge in advertising from offshore gambling sites that appear to flout New Zealand’s ban on promoting online casinos to residents. Former problem gamblers told regulators that they still receive bonus offers and targeted ads, even after searching for gambling-harm resources. Andree Froude explained that operators use social media, influencers and physical tagging to bypass the law, and that the existing advertising framework is fragmented across multiple Acts.

She called for the Department of Internal Affairs to be better equipped to monitor compliance and for breaches to be penalised, especially as the government prepares to award 15 online casino licences at prices reaching $15 million each. The foundation pointed to WHO recommendations that prohibit gambling advertising as a primary step to protect public health. In response, Entain, which runs TAB and Betcha, said it follows strict rules, invests in safer-gambling tools and supports responsible betting.