Gambling in New Zealand is governed and authorized by the Gambling Act of 2003. The law ensures that casinos operate within the regulation and the Department of Internal Affairs enforces and licenses these casino establishments.
The Gambling Act of 2003 in New Zealand helps to manage and minimize the harmful effects that are caused by gambling. The Act enables the gamblers to be educated about responsible gaming.
It guarantees the players a fair chance of winning. The criminal groups that operate in gambling places are also discouraged.
The act also manages the growth of the gambling industry. It helps encourage the industry to have a community responsibility and then control the allowable gambling activities
As mentioned, the Department of Internal Affairs provides the licenses for casinos and for non-casino gambling activities. They also take care of educating the public about gambling and those laws that govern them.
There are other government offices that help regulate, monitor and enforce the gambling laws of New Zealand. The New Zealand Gambling Commission and the Ministry of Health of New Zealand are two other offices that help to ensure that the public will always get the benefits of gambling.
The New Zealand Gambling Commission is an independent constitutional department that was established under the Gambling Act of 2003. The commission reviews all casino licensing applications and they can make the appeals to the decisions made by the Secretary of Internal Affairs.
The Department of Internal Affairs
The decisions made by the Department of Internal Affairs are also enforced by the commission. The New Zealand Gambling Commission fulfils the following roles in government in the gambling industry.
They can also revoke or change the conditions stipulated in the license. And all appeals between operators and license holders pass by them. And finally, they assume an advisory position in gambling issues.
The Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health of New Zealand helps the public by ensuring that this industry operates within the laws. They make sure that gamers are protected from the dangerous effects of gambling such as depression, anxiety and mood disorders.
They also help to promote public health by preventing and reducing the harmful effects of gambling. They provide services to treat and assist problems that gamblers and their families encounter.
Since gambling also has an addictive effect the Ministry of Health of New Zealand also helps those who already are addicted and educates those who are not.
To date, the ministry has already recorded several such cases and continues to provide lawmakers with valuable data in order for them to come up with new laws and update existing ones.
Law on Photo Recording
New Zealand has another law that helps protect gamblers and establishments. And that’s the law on photo recording. In New Zealand, it is illegal to take pictures or videos of people when they have not given their consent.
An important figure for example who had decided to gamble in a casino would be protected by random paparazzi from being caught in a compromising situation because the photo recording law protects him and his privacy.
The photo recording law specifically says that it is illegal to stop other people’s moments of enjoyment.