New Zealand’s Parliament has passed the first reading of the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill, which would raise the minimum age for buying Lotto products to 18.
The change is part of a wider move to modernise and streamline 23 Acts under the Department of Internal Affairs.
Alongside the Lotto restriction, the Bill proposes a series of administrative and enforcement updates, such as cancelling passports if personal data is compromised and simplifying how organisations can use the RealMe identity verification service.
It also seeks to limit donations to fertility clinics and give the Classification Office more flexibility by allowing the Chief and Deputy Chief Censor to delegate responsibilities.
Minister’s position
“I’m pleased to see the Bill pass its first reading and proceed to the select committee, where it will be open for public submissions,” said Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden.
“One of my priorities for the Internal Affairs portfolio is to improve the efficiency of the Department, and this Bill makes a suite of minor changes to deliver that.”
She also stressed the importance of strengthening measures against harmful online content: “One of the changes the Bill also makes is strengthening the Department’s ability to share information with international law enforcement agencies to prevent the spread of objectionable content, such as child sex abuse material, online.
“The Department’s digital safety team works hard to take down this horrific content, and I am pleased to be able to support their efforts through this change.”
Current age rules
In New Zealand, there is currently no age limit for playing Lotto, Play 3, Keno or Bullseye. However, if someone is under 18 and wins more than $1,000, a parent or legal guardian has to sign an acknowledgement form before they get their prize.
Scratchcards remain a different story however. Instant Play, Instant Kiwi, and other similar games are strictly for over 18s under the 2003 Gambling Act. It is illegal to sell them to anyone under age, or to buy them for someone who is.
Betting market backdrop
The latest reforms come as New Zealand’s betting sector grows rapidly. According to Statista, the total gambling market is expected to generate around $5.85bn (£2.4bn) this year, with projected growth to $6.63bn by 2029.
The number of users is also expected to amount to 2.2 million in the next four years. Much of the growth is online, where offshore operators, outside local regulation, are estimated to capture a large share of spending.
Next steps
The Bill will now go before the Governance and Administration Committee for a six-month review, where Parliament emphasised that the public can submit feedback. If passed, it will mark a notable tightening of gambling rules alongside a wider set of regulatory updates.