for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
As New Zealand prepares to open its online gambling market, lawmakers have moved to block the use of credit cards for betting.
Up to 15 operators are expected to enter the market by the end of next year, with the government projecting NZD 44 million ($25 million) in license fees alone, alongside future tax revenue.
The restriction is designed to cut off indirect ways of funding play, such as topping up e-wallets with borrowed money, and forms part of a wider push to build consumer protections into the new framework. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden backed the ban, describing it as a safeguard to ensure players do not spend beyond their means.
Operators to pay 16% tax in reformed market
The Online Casino Bill moved another step forward after the Governance and Administration Committee backed it earlier this month, but the final shape of the new system is still being worked out according to Gambling News.
One thing the government has already locked in is the tax rate, online operators will pay 16% of their revenue, a jump from the earlier plan.
It’s still unclear whether all 15 licenses will be taken up once the market opens. Even so, the relatively low tax level could help licensed operators hold their ground against offshore sites that continue to target New Zealand players without approval.
