Casinos, Gambling and Sports Betting in New Zealand

The New Zealand TAB initiated the world's firstHolds more than 780 race meetings a year, attended
Government-run totalisator betting service in 1951. Theby more than 1.04m customers.
TAB (totalisation agency board) is run by the NewSince 1994 when the Christchurch Casino opened the
Zealand Racing board and controls all of Newgovernment has given out 6 licences to companies for
Zealand's horse, greyhound and sports gambling. Theylegalised Casinos to operate in New Zealand. At this
have branches set up all over New Zealand as well asstage the NZ government will not be issuing any more
at all race meets. In 1996 it added fixed odds betting tolicenses. The Casinos are located in Auckland,
its horse and greyhound gambling options, when theHamilton, Christchurch, Dunedin and two in
TAB began sports betting.Queenstown.
The three racing sports that New Zealanders bet onIt is no surprise that all of the casinos are flourishing
before fixed odds Sports betting was made legaland they are returning some of there profit to the
were;community through sponsorship and grants to charities.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (gallops)The Casinos have also opened the way for pubs/bars
Harness Racing New Zealand (trotting and pacing)and sports clubs around New Zealand to place
New Zealand Greyhound Racing (greyhounds)"pokies" (electronic gambling machines) in their
Now over 26 sports are covered with sports from allestablishments. A large amount of the profit off these
over the world, including baseball, rugby, football, golf,"pokies" is given back to the community through
tennis and cricket to shearing.government grants and sponsorships given out by the
In 2003 when the New Zealand racing board was setsports club or pub/bar.
up it conducted a survey the found out that racing;With the increased in gambling it is of no surprise to
Generates some 1.3% of New Zealand's gdp - aroundanyone that there has been an increased level in
$1.5bn per yeargambling related crime and illness. This is the price you
Creates some 18,300 full time jobs, generating morehave to pay to bring the many jobs and money to the
than $679m in salaries and wages. That's the figure,communities that have gambling establishments near
measured in "full time equivalents"them.
Generates more than $130m in export sales of horses