Promoting responsible gambling is a collective effort between players and providers in the gaming industry. For individuals in New Zealand, responsible betting involves recognizing and managing their own gaming habits, ensuring it remains a source of enjoyment rather than solely profit-driven. Striking a balance and preventing negative impacts on personal lives and those around them is paramount.
Providers, on the other hand, bear the responsibility of providing secure, transparent platforms for gamblers. It is their duty to implement rigorous measures to prevent underage gambling, cap deposits, and offer self-exclusion options for adult players.
In New Zealand, gambling regulations are overseen by various regional bodies, each with its unique responsibilities:
New Zealand Gambling Commission: Established to regulate various gambling activities, including casinos, betting, lotteries, and racing, with a focus on monitoring, research, and providing education and counseling services to gamblers.
Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission: Formed to create a regulated gambling environment and promote harm minimization strategies.
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR): A statutory authority overseeing Victoria’s liquor and gambling industries, ensuring safe and responsible gambling experiences.
Department of Racing, Gaming, and Liquor (Western Australia): Responsible for ensuring a safe gaming environment through rigorous audits of gaming machines before issuing licenses.
The New Zealand Federal government’s policies are streamlined under the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Key regulations include:
Prohibition of unlicensed interactive gambling services within New Zealand borders.
Strict guidelines on advertising unlicensed regulated interactive gaming services.
The authority of ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) to set industry codes and investigate violations of regulations and codes.
These regulations aim to uphold integrity within the industry and safeguard players from unlawful or unethical practices.
Self-Control Measures
Self-control measures are personalized strategies designed to mitigate the adverse impacts of gambling, and in severe cases, they may involve self-exclusion, where individuals voluntarily ban themselves from both online and land-based gaming platforms. Enshrined in New Zealand laws, betting providers are obligated to offer self-exclusion options to their customers. Under these self-control limits:
Self-imposed Deposit Limits: After completing age verification and casino account setup, players can freely deposit funds and engage in various betting ranges. However, if they find themselves exceeding their budget or depositing too frequently, they can activate self-imposed deposit limits or self-exclusion facilities. These tools allow users to set their own deposit limits, which casinos must honor.
Loss Limits: Implemented through advanced casino software, a pop-up notification appears when players are approaching their weekly loss limit. This alert signals their proximity to the limit, and their gaming session is automatically terminated to prevent further losses.
Session Limits: Regular pop-up reminders on the interface keep players informed about the duration of their playing sessions. These prompts offer the option to log out of the casino or continue playing, serving as gentle reminders of the time spent gaming.
Betting Limits: For players comfortable with their weekly deposit amount but concerned about their betting sums, they can set weekly betting limits that the casino will adhere to.