The amendment strengthens responsible gambling by preventing children from playing lottery games
The government of New Zealand is taking steps to prevent children from gambling by setting a minimum age of 18 for the purchase of lottery products.
Under the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill, which passed its third and final reading in parliament last week, the minimum age for buying lottery products will be set at 18 years old across all games.
At present, age restrictions do not apply to the purchase of all lottery tickets, allowing children to purchase products like Lotto NZ’s twice weekly draw.
The adoption of a uniform 18+ age rating for lottery games follows a 2022 report by Auckland University of Technology’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, which found that children as young as nine years old were playing lotto games.
“This is a really simple change that will ensure age restrictions are clear to retailers and consumers, and ensure children are not inadvertently allowed to gamble,” said Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs.
New Zealand is currently in the process of re-regulating its online gambling market, with up to 15 licenses available to operators through a competitive selection process.
The licenses are expected to be issued in early 2027, with a transitional framework allowing existing operators to continue to serve the market while their license applications are processed.