June 27, 2025 • 10 mins
New Zealand punters will no longer be able to bet with overseas bookmaker under new laws that will come into effect next week.
TAB NZ will become the sole legal provider of online sports and racing betting, with a number of politicians saying it could provide a major boost to the nation’s betting industry.
The law change has made it illegal for offshore operators to accept bets, and have introduced stronger powers to prevent gambling harm.
TAB NZ CEO Nick Roberts joined Piney to discuss the changes.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zb.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
New Zealand punters will no longer be able to bet
with overseas bookmakers under new laws that have come into
effect today. On Wednesday afternoon, the Racing Industry Amendment Bill
unanimously passed its third reading in Parliament. It's been signed
into law and is in effect as of right now.
The bill makes changes to New Zealand betting laws to
(00:35):
create a legislative net. It makes it illegal for overseas
betting operators to accept online bets on sport and racing
from anybody living in New Zealand now. Until now, it's
estimated that one hundred and eighty to two hundred million
dollars each year is bet offshore by kiwis upter seventy
(00:58):
percent of that is with UK agency Bet three sixty five. Now,
the proceeds of money bet with offshore operators doesn't flow
through to our racing industry or to the thirty eight
national sporting organizations on which sports betting occurs here in
New Zealand. The passing of this bell also means an
immediate one hundred million dollar payout from the TAB strategic
(01:18):
partner in Tain Group. They oversee the tab's betting, wagering
and broadcast operations. Of that one hundred million, eighty million
will go straight to racing and twenty million to sport
New Zealand, they're going to divvy it up among the
national sporting organizations as they see fit. Nick Roberts is
the CEO of the New Zealand TAB. He joins us Now, Nick,
(01:41):
thanks for taking the time. How significant are development is this?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, good afternoon. Look, it's an amazing outcome for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
This is.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A reset of the intention of the TV created in
nineteen fifty so were coming up seventy five years and
we had sports been joined us in nineteen ninety six
and the funding that the community through racing and through
sport has relied on was not a serious threat. As
you say, with that two hundred million dollar being lost
out of the regulated environment about a third of our market.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
How important to the racing industry and to our national
sporting bodies is the money they receive from betting through
the TAB.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, well, look we are a funder for the racing industry.
It's an industry which adds about two billion dollars to
the economy every year, jobs about thirteen and a half
thousand and as you and your list as will know,
a lot of that in regional New Zealand. So really
critical for the racing industry to ensure that funding is
sustainable for the long run and for sports. I think
(02:46):
it's become more and more important for them as other
situations have tightened their funding. So we're really excited to
be able to continue the funding of sport in particular,
I think in terms of the challenges that they have
and being able to give twenty million dollars to Sport
New Zealand upfront is a really great opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
So just clarify for us next. So when money is
bet on a sport in New Zealand, regardless of whether
it's a New Zealand sport, unless use basketball as an example,
if somebody bets on the NBA, then Basketball New Zealand
benefit from that, is.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
That right, That's right? Yeah, So the sport's funding model
is a commission structure, so they get commissions are paid
on turnover and gross profit. So yeah, every bet sort
of is contributing back to the local sport that sport is.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Would you expect or estimate that the close to two
hundred million bet offshore each year up to now will
largely transfer to betting on the tab.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, I mean look at that, that is the total
million dollar question. I think the situation there is going
to be one that unfolds that we do think that
a large part of that market will be recaptured, and
I think you know what shouldn't be lost along this
journey is that the harmonimization outcome for customers is really important.
It is a big priority of our business and capturing
(04:16):
as much as we can of that market, we are
ensuring that the care we are betting in the safest
environment possible. And I think when you look at all
the options available for gaming regulation, I think we've struck
a pretty good balance here and that probably goes to
your point about the Parliament voting for this unanimously signals
that we've got that's pretty right.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
What do those harm minimization protections include?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, so, I think one of the important things when
we look to partner with an offshore operator, which we
did with NTAIN, is to leverage their scale and when
we replatform the TV business from our old site to
their technology. The investment in technology took harmonimization fought a
(05:04):
long way overnight. There's a lot of deep investment into
both tools for customers to manage manage their betting and
also the monitoring system. And it is just natural benefits
of a single operator market. So being able to know
that when a customer has a problem and you stop
them betting, that they don't just go off down the
street to another operator. You know, it's a really important
(05:27):
part of that.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Why do New Zealanders bet using overseas providers?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Oh look, I think there's a bunch of reasons for that.
I think the historical TV had a few challenges on
the brand. So going forward, you know, as next Tuesday,
people will only be able to bet with tav and
the new online only brand Betcher. And I think so
there was probably a branding issure that people, you know,
as time's gone on, people didn't want to bet with
(05:54):
their dance brand. They wanted to have something that was
their own, and we think bet Betcher offers that fresh approach.
And I think also people probably got frustrated by the experience, right,
I mean, as we've talked about, you know, we've got
a big fund and obligation to the back to the community,
which made it hard for us to invest in the
technology platforms in the past. But going we're really what
(06:17):
we've managed to achieve over the last couple of years
is basically that we'll have keyweeds well get a world
class experience through Intain. They'll be in the safest environment
possible and we're going to maximize our outcomes for our country.
You know, what is the greatest country in the world,
and we think this is probably the leading gaming regulation
in the world.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Other countries, of course have similar legislation Australia does. The
difference there, of course is punthers have a variety of
domestic betting options available to them. The ta B will
now have a monopoly on sports and racing betting here
in New Zealand. So won't this mean decreased odds with
no outside competition.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Absolutely not so. In Taine. People may have seen their
press release and you know this has been undertaken to
us as well, that they'll offer the same odds that
they offer Australian market. So the Australian wageram market for
people that don't know, is the most competitive in the world.
And what that means is that customers have that benefit
(07:17):
of the pricing that occurs in that market, as well
as the platform and technology development that goes with it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Because I guess people hear the word monopoly, don't they neck,
and they think I gain no competition, These blokes can
do what they like. What would you say to that
sort of comment.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, look, I think you know, historically that would have
perhaps been where the business went. But I think, as
I say, we've struck a really great deal with NTAIN
and the setting that we have really important to get
those harmonimization measers right, to make sure that we're not
removing vital funding to the good of the country, and
(07:54):
all those things, as they say, you know, were balanced
by lawmakers through the last six months.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
One of the other concerns I've seen expressed is that
it could potentially be restrictive on how much somebody can bet,
how much somebody can win, particularly if they're successful over
a long period of time. What's the response to that
sort of concern.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, look, I think that's going to be an involving
piece for us to keep making sure that customers are
getting a fair go that it is vital that that happens.
There is, as I say, a commercial imperative that the
business has to face into because of our funding requirements
for the community. But we expect people to be able
to have a decent bet on a New Zealand race.
(08:37):
We expect certain sports to be engaged with the all
laps matches and that sort of thing, to have that activity.
But let's not also forget that betting is a discretionary activity.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
The legislation doesn't GEO block New Zealanders from offshore betting sites,
does it. You can still get on them, but it
does make it illegal for those operators to accept a
bet from somebody who lives in New Zealand. So how
confident are you that they'll do that?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Really confident? So I think the important thing to know
there is that you know, the way the bidding markets
sort of exist slobally, and we've got a really good
understanding of what that term a million dollar market looks like.
Is that the operators are subjects to strict regulation around
where they do operate, So you know, they don't want
(09:28):
to block their copybook by going against the Act of
the New Zealand Parliament. And you know where we'll be
working with the DEA to make sure that it's enforced appropriately.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
All right, And obviously you've known about this for a while.
It's been through been through three readings. Now, as I say,
passed during the week. Well, what's the reaction been to
it as it's been going through the legius lot of
process and now that it has passed, what sort of
reaction have you had in the past few days.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah. Look, I think everyone's pretty excited, you know, about
the opportunity that it does bring for New Zealand. And
I think one of the as I say, the important
things for us was that getting that unanimous support across
the Parliament means that this is something that will sustain
for a long time. And I think, you know, the
sustainability of these settings is really important to.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Us significant development. Thanks so much for joining us to
fill us in, Nick, really appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's Nick Roberts, CEO of THAB, New Zealand, with us
on Weekend Sport One.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News talk edb weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zb.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
New Zealand punters will no longer be able to bet
with overseas bookmakers under new laws that have come into
effect today. On Wednesday afternoon, the Racing Industry Amendment Bill
unanimously passed its third reading in Parliament. It's been signed
into law and is in effect as of right now.
The bill makes changes to New Zealand betting laws to
(00:35):
create a legislative net. It makes it illegal for overseas
betting operators to accept online bets on sport and racing
from anybody living in New Zealand now. Until now, it's
estimated that one hundred and eighty to two hundred million
dollars each year is bet offshore by kiwis upter seventy
(00:58):
percent of that is with UK agency Bet three sixty five. Now,
the proceeds of money bet with offshore operators doesn't flow
through to our racing industry or to the thirty eight
national sporting organizations on which sports betting occurs here in
New Zealand. The passing of this bell also means an
immediate one hundred million dollar payout from the TAB strategic
(01:18):
partner in Tain Group. They oversee the tab's betting, wagering
and broadcast operations. Of that one hundred million, eighty million
will go straight to racing and twenty million to sport
New Zealand, they're going to divvy it up among the
national sporting organizations as they see fit. Nick Roberts is
the CEO of the New Zealand TAB. He joins us Now, Nick,
(01:41):
thanks for taking the time. How significant are development is this?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, good afternoon. Look, it's an amazing outcome for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
This is.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A reset of the intention of the TV created in
nineteen fifty so were coming up seventy five years and
we had sports been joined us in nineteen ninety six
and the funding that the community through racing and through
sport has relied on was not a serious threat. As
you say, with that two hundred million dollar being lost
out of the regulated environment about a third of our market.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
How important to the racing industry and to our national
sporting bodies is the money they receive from betting through
the TAB.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, well, look we are a funder for the racing industry.
It's an industry which adds about two billion dollars to
the economy every year, jobs about thirteen and a half
thousand and as you and your list as will know,
a lot of that in regional New Zealand. So really
critical for the racing industry to ensure that funding is
sustainable for the long run and for sports. I think
(02:46):
it's become more and more important for them as other
situations have tightened their funding. So we're really excited to
be able to continue the funding of sport in particular,
I think in terms of the challenges that they have
and being able to give twenty million dollars to Sport
New Zealand upfront is a really great opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
So just clarify for us next. So when money is
bet on a sport in New Zealand, regardless of whether
it's a New Zealand sport, unless use basketball as an example,
if somebody bets on the NBA, then Basketball New Zealand
benefit from that, is.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
That right, That's right? Yeah, So the sport's funding model
is a commission structure, so they get commissions are paid
on turnover and gross profit. So yeah, every bet sort
of is contributing back to the local sport that sport is.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Would you expect or estimate that the close to two
hundred million bet offshore each year up to now will
largely transfer to betting on the tab.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, I mean look at that, that is the total
million dollar question. I think the situation there is going
to be one that unfolds that we do think that
a large part of that market will be recaptured, and
I think you know what shouldn't be lost along this
journey is that the harmonimization outcome for customers is really important.
It is a big priority of our business and capturing
(04:16):
as much as we can of that market, we are
ensuring that the care we are betting in the safest
environment possible. And I think when you look at all
the options available for gaming regulation, I think we've struck
a pretty good balance here and that probably goes to
your point about the Parliament voting for this unanimously signals
that we've got that's pretty right.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
What do those harm minimization protections include?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, so, I think one of the important things when
we look to partner with an offshore operator, which we
did with NTAIN, is to leverage their scale and when
we replatform the TV business from our old site to
their technology. The investment in technology took harmonimization fought a
(05:04):
long way overnight. There's a lot of deep investment into
both tools for customers to manage manage their betting and
also the monitoring system. And it is just natural benefits
of a single operator market. So being able to know
that when a customer has a problem and you stop
them betting, that they don't just go off down the
street to another operator. You know, it's a really important
(05:27):
part of that.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Why do New Zealanders bet using overseas providers?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Oh look, I think there's a bunch of reasons for that.
I think the historical TV had a few challenges on
the brand. So going forward, you know, as next Tuesday,
people will only be able to bet with tav and
the new online only brand Betcher. And I think so
there was probably a branding issure that people, you know,
as time's gone on, people didn't want to bet with
(05:54):
their dance brand. They wanted to have something that was
their own, and we think bet Betcher offers that fresh approach.
And I think also people probably got frustrated by the experience, right,
I mean, as we've talked about, you know, we've got
a big fund and obligation to the back to the community,
which made it hard for us to invest in the
technology platforms in the past. But going we're really what
(06:17):
we've managed to achieve over the last couple of years
is basically that we'll have keyweeds well get a world
class experience through Intain. They'll be in the safest environment
possible and we're going to maximize our outcomes for our country.
You know, what is the greatest country in the world,
and we think this is probably the leading gaming regulation
in the world.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Other countries, of course have similar legislation Australia does. The
difference there, of course is punthers have a variety of
domestic betting options available to them. The ta B will
now have a monopoly on sports and racing betting here
in New Zealand. So won't this mean decreased odds with
no outside competition.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Absolutely not so. In Taine. People may have seen their
press release and you know this has been undertaken to
us as well, that they'll offer the same odds that
they offer Australian market. So the Australian wageram market for
people that don't know, is the most competitive in the world.
And what that means is that customers have that benefit
(07:17):
of the pricing that occurs in that market, as well
as the platform and technology development that goes with it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Because I guess people hear the word monopoly, don't they neck,
and they think I gain no competition, These blokes can
do what they like. What would you say to that
sort of comment.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, look, I think you know, historically that would have
perhaps been where the business went. But I think, as
I say, we've struck a really great deal with NTAIN
and the setting that we have really important to get
those harmonimization measers right, to make sure that we're not
removing vital funding to the good of the country, and
(07:54):
all those things, as they say, you know, were balanced
by lawmakers through the last six months.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
One of the other concerns I've seen expressed is that
it could potentially be restrictive on how much somebody can bet,
how much somebody can win, particularly if they're successful over
a long period of time. What's the response to that
sort of concern.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, look, I think that's going to be an involving
piece for us to keep making sure that customers are
getting a fair go that it is vital that that happens.
There is, as I say, a commercial imperative that the
business has to face into because of our funding requirements
for the community. But we expect people to be able
to have a decent bet on a New Zealand race.
(08:37):
We expect certain sports to be engaged with the all
laps matches and that sort of thing, to have that activity.
But let's not also forget that betting is a discretionary activity.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
The legislation doesn't GEO block New Zealanders from offshore betting sites,
does it. You can still get on them, but it
does make it illegal for those operators to accept a
bet from somebody who lives in New Zealand. So how
confident are you that they'll do that?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Really confident? So I think the important thing to know
there is that you know, the way the bidding markets
sort of exist slobally, and we've got a really good
understanding of what that term a million dollar market looks like.
Is that the operators are subjects to strict regulation around
where they do operate, So you know, they don't want
(09:28):
to block their copybook by going against the Act of
the New Zealand Parliament. And you know where we'll be
working with the DEA to make sure that it's enforced appropriately.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
All right, And obviously you've known about this for a while.
It's been through been through three readings. Now, as I say,
passed during the week. Well, what's the reaction been to
it as it's been going through the legius lot of
process and now that it has passed, what sort of
reaction have you had in the past few days.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah. Look, I think everyone's pretty excited, you know, about
the opportunity that it does bring for New Zealand. And
I think one of the as I say, the important
things for us was that getting that unanimous support across
the Parliament means that this is something that will sustain
for a long time. And I think, you know, the
sustainability of these settings is really important to.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Us significant development. Thanks so much for joining us to
fill us in, Nick, really appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's Nick Roberts, CEO of THAB, New Zealand, with us
on Weekend Sport One.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News talk edb weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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