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Following our experience with the NZ online gambling market, we created a unique guide to help NZ players understand better their rights and obligations.
The rights NZ gamblers are entitled to
It is more than crucial to know your rights and obligations as a gambler. Our specialised team gathered all you need to know to play safely at an NZ casino.
In this section, we hope to make you aware of your rights within an online casino so that you can both make use of them and recognise if there ever is an infringement.
Access the Terms and Conditions
Becoming familiar with the Terms and Conditions of an NZ casino is always a must!
Think of them as a virtual contract that you agree with upon registering on that website.
Some casinos give you access to them even before you register, others only after. We recommend you read them thoroughly before starting gambling to ensure that the casino is fair and square with its obligations and requirements.
How to know if the T&Cs are transparent:
- First and foremost, take a look at the license. This is the crucial aspect to search for to ensure that the NZ casino has its set of rules very well stipulated.
- Secondly, you should find basic information, such as the game selection, providers, contact methods, KYC checks, payment and withdrawal methods, processing time, currency, bonuses, etc.
2. Benefit from responsible gambling tools
Each NZ casino must provide its players with helpful resources for combating gambling addiction.
These include:
- Self-assessment tests
- References to higher authorities
- Time and money limits
- Self-exclusion
- Take-a-break functions.
Since 2021, Kiwibank offers NZ players the possibility to block their Visa debit or credit cards to potentially reduce compulsive spending.
Be able to make a deposit using remote payments
If you choose to play at an online casino, you should be able to make a payment through credit or debit cards.
Top list of NZ top banks for Kiwi players:
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Bank of New Zealand (BNZ):
It has offered its services to customers since as far back as 1861, with over 5000 employees in New Zealand;
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Kiwibank:
Opened in 2002, Kiwibank is the first bank in NZ that provided real-time mobile banking. It has over 800,000 customers and even got the CANSTAR First Home Buyer Bank of the Year Award in 2018;
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Australia and New Zealand Bank Group (ANZ):
It is the largest financial services group in New Zealand which accounts for 1% of NZ GDP;
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Auckland Savings Bank (ASB):
Established in 1847, this bank provides rural banking, insurance services, business banking or funds management.
Depending on the payment method you choose, the bank may imply some taxes. Make sure you know which applies to you.
Be acquainted with the promotions
Each NZ online casino should have a particular page dedicated to bonuses.
There, you will find information related to bonus type, wagering, bonus value, payment and withdrawal methods, available games or expiration date.
The Bonus Terms Page should contain additional details regarding the promotions and how to benefit from them.
Since each bonus is unique and has its own set of requirements, you are entitled to know right from the beginning what rules to obey not to cross them and have your account permanently closed.
Keep your data safe and protected
Similar to other industries, NZ online casinos are obliged to respect the privacy of your personal data and not divulge it to other third parties.
What is considered personal data?
Personal information refers to the physical aspect of a person and all other information that defines their identity (like date of birth, name, etc.).
Under the Privacy Act 2020, online casinos must:
- Inform you right from the beginning why they collect your information, where they will store it and how it will be handled;
- Make sure that the information you provided is accurate;
- Offer you a record of your personal details and correct it upon request.
Look for such data handling in the Terms of Use or the Privacy Policy Pages. If you are not sure what the practice is, contact the casino support team.
Play a wide range of games
To put it shortly, as an NZ player, you can play the same range of games at an online casino as you would play in land-based ones.
From Pokies, Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat, Roulette and other card games to Jackpots and Live Casino: you name it!
Know that you play at a licensed casino
Besides the transparent T&Cs, the fairness and security of an NZ online casino are also determined by its license. Several gambling beginners may ask themselves: are online casinos rigged? As you understand how licensing works, you should comprehend what guarantees the fairness of a casino.
Each regulatory body ensures that the casino obeys a specific set of rules regarding its good functioning as well as its relationship with the NZ players.
The many licenses, the better!
Some of the most secure licenses in New Zealand are UKGC, MGA, Swedish Gambling Authority or the Danish Gambling Authority.
Here is what you should not do: Don’t choose a casino without a license! Even though there are few such cases, it is more likely that you could be a victim of a scam.
In our NZ online casino reviews, we always make sure to thoroughly check the casinos for licensing to ensure you that it is safe to play at them.
Have a way of contacting the casino
Any casino must have a contact method, be it Live Chat, e-mail or telephone, especially if you encounter some issues.
In case NZ players want to make a complaint, they should be able to speak to the casino directly or, if the matter escalates, take it to a higher authority.
Choose the promotional materials sent to you
Generally speaking, when you open an account, the casino will give you the option to receive marketing materials, such as newsletters or bonuses via e-mail or SMS.
You have the right to deny such materials right from the start or change your mind along the way. There should be a way to stop or pause receiving these promotions by contacting the support team or unsubscribing via your casino account.
Now, let’s see your obligations as an NZ player!
The rules you need to follow as a Kiwi gambler
On a similar note, gambling comes with a set of responsibilities that you must respect. Here are the most important ones gathered by our team!
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Pay your taxes
Gambling in New Zealand is mainly considered a leisure activity.
So, whether you want to spin some pokies or test your gameplay strategy at table games, just for fun, then you don’t have to pay any taxes to the Inland Revenue Department.
If you are a professional gambler, things change
In this case, since gambling is becoming a regular source of income, then the winnings must be reported and, eventually, be subjected to taxes.
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Have the legal age to gamble online
It is well known that underage gambling is strictly prohibited in New Zealand, both in land-based casinos and on online platforms.
The NZ gambling law stipulates that only players of 20 years and above are allowed to gamble in brick-and-mortar casinos.
However, since all best casinos NZ are based overseas, the rules change
You must remember to look into the gambling legislation of that particular country where the casinos are established.
The minimum legal age to gamble is 18, and it can go as high as 21.
In order to prove that you have the legal age to gamble, NZ online casinos will ask you to undergo KYC checks.
You will have to deliver personal documents such as:
- A copy of the ID card
- Driver’s license
- Utility bill.
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Obey the terms and conditions
Each casino has a predetermined set of rules that all players must follow. In this respect, if you breach any of them, the casino has the right to close your account.
The casino has to inform you of any change within the Terms and Conditions before it is imposed.
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Do not use mischievous tactics to cheat
Akin to other industries, cheating is considered unacceptable. More so, if it implies games of chance.
And even though there are some methods you can use to cheat, you must remember that you have a responsibility towards the casino, towards other players and, ultimately, towards yourself to play fairly.
Using any ill-intended software or scamming manoeuvre to take up an advantage will be punished
The casino is entitled to press charges against you in case of money laundering or damages towards the casino.
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Do not use someone else’s personal information
Similar to cheating, pretending to be someone else is considered a crime and will be sanctioned inside and outside the casino terms.
Be it a family member, a friend or an acquaintance, using their identification documents means a violation of their privacy.
Additional details you should know
Besides your rights and obligations within the casino, our team have found other aspects that you pay attention to as a player.
Child protection
We all know that gambling addiction can have damaging effects on a person’s physical and mental well-being. More so if it starts at a very young age.
The reasons are diverse:
- It can be a parent with a gambling addiction that passes it to its children.
- It can begin from a psychological level as a leisure activity.
The New Zealand Government is constantly pursuing methods to impede gambling addiction.
And the Government is not the only one who has this objective! We compiled a list of responsible gambling institutions and their purpose of giving you a starting point on the matter.
If you have a child that could be predisposed to it, there are ways to deal with gambling addiction. From prevention to recognition and, eventually, to consequences, our team has given you a complete guide on the matter.
Learn the rules of the casino you play at
Like any other service, casinos have their own Terms and Conditions accustomed to the New Zealand online gambling market.
It is imperative to know these rules and to obey them before you immerse yourself in gaming.
Yet, these T&Cs could sometimes be tricky to decipher since they mostly use legal vocabulary and even miss out on some information or two.
To make sure that NZ players fully comprehend what rules to obey when playing at online casinos, we compiled a guide with tips and tricks on what to look for in the T&Cs.
What to do when your rights have been violated
You now know your rights within an NZ online casino.
What happens if they are infringed?
There are cases when either by mistake or with intention, the casino dismisses players’ rights. In this instance, you can try and reason with the team through Live Chat or e-mail, address the matter to an ADR or, as a last resort, take it to court.
We have spent years analysing why a dispute between casinos and players might appear and how to handle it.
In our step-by-step guide, you will learn how to spot the problem, how to discuss it with the casino and the higher authorities you can make an appeal to.
Final notes
We could say that with gambling comes great responsibility! Both from you and from the NZ online casino.
We hope we shed some light on your rights and obligations and how they apply to the New Zealand market.
And remember always to gamble responsibly!
