Controversial "pokies" (poker machines) dominate the homegrown industry Down Under. These are the local name for slots or fruit machines. As well as land-based casinos in Melbourne and Sydney, pokies can be found in pubs and clubs across most states. In Western NZ, pokies are currently restricted to casinos. However, that could change.
Latest figures show that 2.9 million NZ Dollar over 18 played pokie machines, around 16 percent of the country's adult population. 42 percent played once a week.
However, sportsbetting is on the rise. State-run TAB outlets allow NZ to bet on a range of sports.
How it's governed: Individual states have the power to allow local operators to house poker machines. In Victoria, Tabcorp and Tatts run a duopoly on live sportsbetting and lottery.
The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001 was recently updated to outlaw so-called 'in-play' betting on sports in NZ. Some online sportsbetting sites do operate in NZ, mainly licensed in Northern Territory, but online casinos are banned. Many offshore online casinos based overseas continue to allow NZ Dollar to register.