New Zealand will not follow Australia’s lead in restricting gambling advertisements around sports for now, but regulations around online casinos are expected soon.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a series of reforms which will come in to place from January 1 next year, including a cap on TV adsfor betting firms between 6am and 8.30pm and a complete ban during live sports events between those hours.
Gambling ads will be banned on radio during school pick-up and drop-off times and athletes or celebrities cannot appear in this type of advertising, while official team uniforms and sports venues also can’t display ads from these firms.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) said it was aware of the gambling reforms being progressed in Australia.
The Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 contained “provisions to make regulations relating to advertising restrictions”, a DIA statement said.
New Zealanders are unlikely to see similar restrictions around gambling advertising that were announced in Australia. Photo / 123rf
“The Minister for Racing intends to observe the new system before considering further regulation in the harm minimisation area to ensure any changes are well informed.
“This will better ensure that, where required, any new regulations are complementary to those in the anticipated online casino gambling system.”
The DIA said online casino gambling will be regulated under the Online Casino Gambling Bill and face similar restrictions to those announced by the Australian Government.
These include a ban on ads from online casinos during live broadcasts that would attract the viewership of children, a ban on sponsorships and endorsements and placing advertisements where more than 20% of the expected audience is under 18.
Online casino gambling are set to face further regulations, including around advertising, under the Online Casino Gambling Bill.
In August, more than 50 sporting organisations united in opposition to the bill and claimed it posed a risk to community sports funding.
Hilary Souter, chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), New Zealand’s industry-funded advertising regulator, said the organisation’s role was to regulate how advertising is carried out and has a code for legal gambling ads.
“The ASA Gambling Advertising Code requires legal gambling advertising to be socially responsible, not be directed at or have appeal to minors, not encourage excessive gambling, and not undermine harm‑prevention efforts.“
She said that in 2025, the ASA processed 955 complaints about 306 advertisements, with 12 of the ads having raised issues under the gambling advertising code.
A review into the code would begin later this year, Souter said.
