New Zealand has set a minimum age of 18 for the purchase of lottery products under the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill, which passed its third and final reading in parliament last week. The measure establishes a uniform 18+ requirement across all games. Until now, age restrictions did not apply to the purchase of all lottery tickets, which allowed children to buy products such as Lotto NZ’s twice weekly draw.
The uniform age rating follows a 2022 report by Auckland University of Technology’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, which found that children as young as nine were playing lotto games. “This is a really simple change that will ensure age restrictions are clear to retailers and consumers, and ensure children are not inadvertently allowed to gamble,” said Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs.
New Zealand is also re-regulating its online gambling market, with up to 15 licenses available to operators through a competitive selection process. The licenses are expected to be issued in early 2027, with a transitional framework allowing existing operators to continue serving the market while their applications are processed.