True Legal is a specialist law firm dedicated to providing expert advice on New Zealand’s gambling law and policy.

Knowledgeable. Practical. Personable.

Services

  • Gambling law regulatory compliance advice.

  • Advice to offshore developers and operators of online gambling products, including gambling apps.

  • Advice regarding online gambling advertising, casino affiliates, and online payment options.

  • Advice regarding the structure and composition of sales promotion schemes.

  • Assistance with obtaining class 3 gambling licences (large raffles/lotteries and poker tournaments).

  • Gambling Commission appeals.

  • Gaming licence applications and renewals, including prompt restoration of club gaming licences.

  • Facilitating the relocation of gaming venues.

  • Harm minimisation training.

  • Gaming machine venue compliance training.

  • Gaming finance training for clubs.

  • Applications for territorial authority consent.

  • Applications for Ministerial consent to operate 30 gaming machines (club mergers).

  • Assistance with resolving gaming shop/primary activity concerns.

  • Assisting clients with submissions on matters regarding gambling law and policy.

  • Assistance with obtaining approval for gambling equipment under the minimum standards requirements.

  • Assistance in dealings with the Department of Internal Affairs.

  • Gaming licence applications and renewals, including prompt restoration of gaming licences

  • Gaming finance training.

  • Responding to financial viability concerns.

  • Reducing the 37.12% authorised purpose return requirement.

  • Responding to harm minimisation complaints.

  • Simplifying harm minimisation policies and resources.

  • Applications for Ministerial consent to operate 30 gaming machines (club mergers).

  • Assisting with submissions on matters regarding gambling law and policy

  • Assistance in all dealings with the Department of Internal Affairs.

  • Advice to offshore developers and operators of online gambling products, including gambling apps.

  • Advice regarding online gambling advertising.

  • Advice regarding online payment options.

  • Advice regarding casino affiliates.

  • Advice regarding skill-based games.

  • Advice regarding free-to-play games.

  • Providing information on New Zealand’s online gambling spend.

  • Providing information and updates on New Zealand’s proposed online gambling law changes.

  • Assistance in dealings with New Zealand’s regulator, the Department of Internal Affairs.

Jarrod true - true legal

Jarrod True
New Zealand Gambling Law Specialist

Jarrod provides advice regarding the operation of gaming machines, gambling apps, online gambling, racing, lotteries, raffles, poker, and sales promotion schemes.


Jarrod has argued more successful class 4 (gaming machine) Gambling Commission appeals than any other New Zealand lawyer. He is familiar with all the Commission’s prior decisions and High Court and Court of Appeal decisions on gambling-related matters.


Jarrod represents the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand at territorial authority gambling venue policy hearings throughout New Zealand.


Jarrod is listed by Who’s Who Legal as New Zealand’s leading gaming/gambling lawyer. The list includes the top 134 gaming/gambling lawyers from around the globe.


Jarrod graduated with first class honours in 1995.

Online Gambling in New Zealand

New Zealand is a popular grey market. It is currently lawful for offshore-based online providers to provide online gambling services to New Zealanders, provided the gambling operation is run and managed entirely outside of New Zealand. It is, however, illegal to advertise overseas-based gambling providers.


A 12% offshore gambling duty applies to online gambling provided by offshore operators to New Zealand residents. A 15% goods and service tax is also payable. For race and sports betting, a 10% point of consumption charge may also be payable.


The New Zealand Government is currently undertaking work to develop an online gambling system for New Zealand. An online licensing system is expected to be in place by early 2026. The licences will only enable operators to offer online casino games, not sports betting, or lottery products. There will be a limited number of licences available, which will be allocated by auction. Once a licensing system is in place, it will become illegal for unlicensed operators to offer services to New Zealanders.


New Zealand's current online gambling spend is estimated to be between $500m-$900m annually.


Jarrod is able to provide advice on the current advertising restrictions and advice on the steps online gambling providers can take now to assist with being favourably considered for an online licence in the future. Further information is available at: gamblinglaw.co.nz/awards

The New Zealand Gambling Law Guide

The New Zealand Gambling Law Guide

The New Zealand Gambling Law Guide is a comprehensive guide to the law and policy surrounding class 4 gambling.


The Guide includes:


  • A plain English summary of New Zealand’s gambling law and regulations.

  • A summary of all relevant Gambling Commission decisions and court decisions.

  • Key chapters on grants, venue relocations, venue payments, territorial authority consents, club mergers, key person suitability, licence conditions, licence suspensions and cancellations, late bankings, gaming shops, financial viability, gaming machine number limits and online gambling.

The guide is a practical aid and essential tool for all societies and clubs that hold a class 4 operator's licence.


Enquire about pricing and subscriptions.

Contact Us

027 452 7763

Jarrod.True@truelegal.co.nz

Portland Park Business Centre
First Floor, TVC Building
697B Wairere Drive, Chartwell, Hamilton.

Private meeting rooms also available in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

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