As reported by: The New Zealand Herald
Sweeping law changes that will control the growth of gambling venues and restrict internet gambling come into effect tomorrow.

It will harder to get gambling licences and easier to lose them, the Department of Internal Affairs said in a statement today.

The Gambling Act, which was passed last year and comes into effect tomorrow, does not allow for any more casinos and stops the six existing ones expanding their operations.

In other changes, the department must now refuse to grant gambling licences unless applicants show they are suitable.

Currently, the department must show applicants are unsuitable or grant them a licence.

From tomorrow, licences will also be refused unless applicants can show they will minimise the risks of problem gambling.

Pubs, clubs and casinos will need policies to identify and approach problem gamblers and people under 18 years of age will no longer be allowed use poker machines.

Rules on how much pubs can be paid to host pokies were still being developed.

The number of operating pokies has already been reduced under the act, and local authorities' policies will play a key part in how those numbers change, the department said.

The act also allows interactive gambling by internet, cellphone and television, but only through the Lotteries Commission and the TAB.

New Zealanders will be able to bet on overseas websites.

Community groups, such as schools, churches and clubs, can run housie games with prizes up to $5000 without paying licensing and compliance fees, but not pokies.

The act gives powers to the newly established Gambling Commission to suspend and cancel casino licences.

The commission will become an appeal body dealing with public and industry complaints about department decisions.

The Gambling Act 2003 replaces the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977 and the Casino Control Act 1990.