Casino regulation in New Zealand is governed by two primary pieces of legislation: the Gambling Act 2003 and the Casino Control Act 2006. Together, these laws establish comprehensive requirements for casino licensing, operations, and compliance monitoring.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) serves as the primary regulator, responsible for issuing casino licences, monitoring compliance, investigating complaints, and enforcing regulatory requirements. The DIA's Casino Compliance Unit conducts regular audits and inspections to ensure casinos meet all legal obligations.

The regulatory framework covers every aspect of casino operations, including: gaming equipment standards and testing, staff training and integrity requirements, responsible gambling programmes, anti-money laundering procedures, financial reporting and taxation, and advertising and marketing restrictions. This multi-layered approach ensures casinos operate transparently and ethically.

New Zealand operates under a restricted casino licence regime that permits only six land-based casino licences nationwide. These licences cannot be transferred or sold, and no new licences can be issued unless an existing one is surrendered — a policy designed to strictly control gambling expansion.

Licence holders must meet ongoing compliance requirements, including maintaining adequate financial resources, employing suitable personnel (all key staff undergo probity checks), implementing approved responsible gambling programmes, and submitting regular financial and operational reports to the DIA.

The DIA conducts regular compliance audits covering gaming equipment, staff training records, problem gambling interventions, financial transactions, and anti-money laundering procedures. Casinos must also submit to unannounced inspections. Non-compliance can result in warnings, financial penalties, licence conditions, or in serious cases, licence suspension or revocation.

Casino operators must implement comprehensive responsible gambling programmes approved by the DIA. This includes training all gaming staff to recognise signs of problem gambling, displaying information about gambling risks and support services prominently, and providing access to self-exclusion programmes.

Multi-Venue Exclusion (MVE) is a cornerstone of New Zealand's player protection system. Individuals who feel their gambling is problematic can exclude themselves from all participating casinos simultaneously. Casinos must maintain robust systems to enforce exclusions, including staff training and photographic databases.

Additional protections include restrictions on casino advertising (no targeting of minors or vulnerable groups), mandatory age verification (minimum 20 years), and requirements for casinos to provide information on odds and expected returns. The DIA monitors compliance and can impose penalties for violations.

The DIA has extensive enforcement powers to ensure regulatory compliance. Inspectors can enter casinos at any time, demand production of records, interview staff, and seize evidence. The DIA investigates complaints from players, staff, or the public, and can initiate formal enforcement actions when violations are found.

Penalties for non-compliance range from warnings and improvement notices for minor infractions to substantial fines and licence conditions for more serious violations. In extreme cases, the DIA can suspend or revoke casino licences, effectively shutting down operations.

Recent enforcement actions have targeted failures in responsible gambling interventions, inadequate anti-money laundering procedures, and breaches of advertising standards. The DIA publishes enforcement decisions to promote transparency and deter violations across the industry.