While talking without going into details, then nothing. However, it is still worth considering the issue from different angles. So, the New Zealand government has announced plans to legalize online casinos. Such measures have been taken to increase tax revenues to the budget and ensure consumer protection. According to the authorities’ plan, licenses will be auctioned, and their number will be limited. NZ online casinos will be able to enter the country’s regulated market in 2026.
According to the current law, launching online gambling projects is prohibited. However, this does not mean a total ban on online casinos in New Zealand. Nodar Giorgadze highlights that NZ authorities do not restrict players’ access to foreign sites. For example, one of the most popular gambling resources among NZ players is 365bet.com licensed by MGA. The platform offers sports betting and casino games. The international bookmaker is characterized positively by Gamblorium experts and receives approximately 20% of all traffic in this thematic segment in New Zealand.
MGA Licensing Is Still One Of The Priorities In The EU Gambling Community
In fact, MGA-licensed casinos operate not only in New Zealand, they attract players all over the world. An MGA license is a certain standard or indicator that the operator is trustworthy. Moreover, Malta offers clear procedures and advantages in the field of iGaming licensing. The latter include:
- Various tax incentives (similar to those for Maltese trading companies).
- Malta is characterized by a stable economic and political situation – this, as we know, is the key to a successful business.
- Malta is an EU member, so a license gives businesses corresponding privileges.
- An MGA gaming license allows holders to open an EU bank account.
In Malta, you can obtain licenses to conduct gambling activities for both B2C and B2B areas. In the field of B2C licensing there are also 4 areas:
- Class 1 – gambling games in which the result is determined by RNG.
- Class 2 – sports betting (the result of the transaction is determined by the event outcome).
- Class 3 – iGaming activities that generate commission income from bets/winnings. For example, these are poker games and tournaments.
- Class 4 – skill games or fantasy sports. Here the result is determined by statistics.
The law adopted in 2018 greatly simplified the task. Now operators do not need to submit separate applications for each license type. They simply need to apply for a pooled license. Moreover, the license validity was increased from 5 to 10 years.
MGA License: Cost & Value
So, most modern gambling projects are licensed in Malta. Thus, they can work in countries where the regulation of online gambling is twofold. This doesn’t apply to New Zealand only. There are many of such countries – this is also India, for instance. The total amount of all fees for obtaining an MGA gaming license is €36,000. This may seem like a significant amount. However, it is impossible to run a business without a license and hope to remain undetected. Operating without a license is one of the most serious mistakes! Its consequences are very sad and disastrous (for operators).
Firstly, respectable iGaming software suppliers and payment system providers refuse to cooperate with operators without licenses, which significantly reduces the capabilities of the online casino platform. Secondly, the level of trust of players in unlicensed online casinos is incomparably lower. Users actively use forums and other Internet platforms to discuss gaming experiences, so if the casino’s reputation turns out to be unsatisfactory, then changing it will be extremely problematic.
Unlicensed casinos have traditionally been subject to hefty fines if they are based in regulated jurisdictions. For example, in Malta, those who have just come to justice for the first time face a fine ranging from €10,000 to €500,000. Of course, a casino risks being closed altogether if the authorities consider that the gambling enterprise does not comply with the requirements established by law. In Malta, providing unlicensed gambling services is considered a criminal offense with a risk of imprisonment of up to 5 years. This rule applies not only within Maltese jurisdiction. For example, in the UK, gambling without a license entails a fine or 51 weeks behind bars. In Germany, it’s a prison sentence of up to 2 years and tax evasion.
Moreover, near to online gambling regulation in New Zealand, organizations in the Maori community are expressing concerns. A Māori Collective was formed earlier this year to protect Indigenous communities from gambling-related harm. The national Māori gambling harm minimization collective, Te Kāhui Mokoroa, has called on the government to consider the impact of the new regulation. This means that the New Zealand government will be even stricter towards all operators who enter the NZ gambling market. Besides, as we all know, ensuring responsible gambling is impossible without licensing. Kat Healy, general manager of Te Rangihaeata Oranga, a gambling recovery service, says the harm from online gambling is exacerbated by 24/7 access and minimal protective measures. It also focuses on how the wider financial and social impacts of online gambling harm should be a regulatory focus. Strong mechanisms for active advocacy from a health equity perspective must be relevant. People’s well-being must be prioritized over profit.
The price of an MGA license may certainly seem high, but the cost of running a gambling business without it is much higher. Operators whose online projects have been closed, or those who are serving sentences behind bars, will need more than one year to return lost funds. Moreover, to be frank, without a license such as the MGA, operators will not be able to enter promising markets such as New Zealand.
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