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Online Gambling in New Zealand

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Gambling is a popular activity in New Zealand. The reported gambling expenditure in 2018/19, for instance, stood at $2 billion which highlights how profitable this industry has become. However, the legality of online gambling keeps coming up now and then. The challenges facing gambling enthusiasts in neighbouring Australia and other counties concern many players in the country.

Whether you are a resident here or you intend to visit the beautiful country, it’s essential to understand what the law says about this widespread practice. One of the most popular resources for online gambling brands in New Zealand is casinoReviews.net.nz.  

Players can get detailed and objective reviews of online casinos in the country, state of the gambling laws, latest trends and other developments in the industry. Knowledge of the gambling law will help you play safely and confidently, and you can leverage the immense opportunities in the industry.

Who Runs Gambling in the country?

Before delving into gambling laws, you need to understand who authorises gambling in the country. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) ensures compliance with the gambling laws and licenses.

The Gambling Commission (GC) plays a more hands-on role in overseeing casino operations. GC sets license conditions, issues casino operating licenses and listens to appeals against decisions made by the Department of Internal Affairs.

While online casinos are the most popular form of gambling, players can also place bets on sports through different platforms. The Racing Board regulates soccer, horse racing, basketball, tennis and surfing. The Lotteries Commission of New Zealand, on the other hand, runs the popular MyLotto, the online gateway where players can buy tickets and hope to win.

Online Gambling in New Zealand

Is online gambling legal in New Zealand? It is the first question that comes to mind for casino players in the country. To get an answer to this question, you have to look keenly at the Gambling Act of 2003. It is the most relevant legislation when it comes to the question of the legality of casinos in the country.

The Act establishes classes of gambling are determined by the prize values and methods of gaming (Class 1, 2, 3&4). It also bans online interactive gambling with limited exceptions. However, the Act doesn’t prohibit foreign gambling websites. Through this law, online gamblers can freely use foreign-based casinos and other gambling platforms.

Are Land Based Casinos Legal?  

There are only seven land-based casinos in the country despite the popularity of gambling. However, you’ll find many racetracks and bingo halls and high-street betting shops.

Since the first land-based casino appeared in 1994, the restrictive nature of licensing has hindered growth which in turn has seen more players opt to play online.

Playing at Online Casinos

While the Gambling Act restricts the establishment of land-based casinos and even New Zealand online casinos, offshore casinos continue to thrive. The biggest casino brands have identified this as one of the fastest-growing markets, and they have launched sites designed for local players.

It is now possible to play at foreign-based online casinos that process transactions in New Zealand dollars. These platforms also offer pokies and other popular casino games that local players enjoy. The best part about these casinos is that players keep their winnings as there are no taxation structures.

However, this lack of distinct laws also poses a significant risk for players in case of problems when playing. Luckily, the best online casinos carry licenses from reputable licensing authorities. The player should check the reputation, reliability, legitimacy and security features of any online casino they wish to sign up with to protect themselves.

The Mobile Casino Revolution

With over 80% of the population using smartphones, mobile gambling has snowballed. The Gambling Act considers mobile gambling apps illegal but local players can still download these apps. The biggest casino brands such as Leo Vegas Casino, Bet365 Casino, and Mr Green Casino now offer mobile casino experiences through apps and mobile-friendly websites.

With no local regulatory oversight, players should read reviews and testimonials and check the reputation of any mobile casino app or mobile casino website they wish to use.

So, are Online Casinos in New Zealand Legal?

The Gambling Act doesn’t explicitly ban online gambling on offshore casinos. It is this ambiguity that has seen the New Zealand Government through the NZ DIA express willingness to update the laws for today’s digital world.

For now, casino lovers in the country can sign up and win at foreign-based casinos. However, lack of regulatory oversight for these casinos poses a risk and it’s thus necessary for players to research keenly to ensure a safe and enjoyable casino experience.

Jenny is one of the oldest contributors of Bigtime Daily with a unique perspective of the world events. She aims to empower the readers with delivery of apt factual analysis of various news pieces from around the World.

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TRG Chairman Khaishgi and CEO Aslam implicated in $150 million fraud

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In a scathing 52-page decision, the Sindh High Court has found that TRG Pakistan’s management was acting fraudulently and that Bermuda-based Greentree Holdings historic and prospective purchase of TRG shares were illegal, fraudulent and oppressive. 

The Sindh High Court has further directed TRGP to immediately hold board elections that have been overdue and illegally withheld by the existing board since January 14, 2025. 

In the landmark ruling, the Sindh High Court has blocked the attempted takeover of TRG Pakistan Limited by Greentree Holdings, declaring that the shares acquired by Greentree, nearly 30% of TRG’s stock, were unlawfully financed using TRG’s funds in violation of Section 86(2) of the Companies Act 2017.

“Having concluded that the affairs of TRGP are being conducted in an unlawful and fraudulent manner and in a manner oppressive to members such as the Petitioner (Zia Chishti), the case falls for corrective orders under sub-section (2) of section 286 of the Companies Act,” Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry concluded.

The case was brought by TRGP former CEO and founder Pakistani-American technology entrepreneur Zia Chishti against TRG Pakistan, its associate TRG International and TRG International’s wholly-owned shell company Greentree Limited.  In addition, the case named AKD Securities for managing Greentree’s illegal tender offer as well as various regulators requiring that they act to perform their regulatory duties.

The case centred around the dispute that shell company Greentree Limited was fraudulently using TRG Pakistan’s own funds to purchase TRG Pakistan’s shares in order to give control to Zia Chishti’s former partners Mohammed Khaishgi, Hasnain Aslam and Pinebridge Investments.

According to the case facts, the Chairman of TRG Pakistan Mohammed Khaishgi and the CEO of TRG Pakistan Hasnain Aslam masterminded the $150 million fraud. They did so together with Hong Kong based fund manager Pinebridge who has two nominees on TRG Pakistan’s board, Mr. John Leone and Mr. Patrick McGinnis.

According to the court papers, Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis set up a shell company called Greentree which they secretly controlled and from which they started buying up shares of TRG Pakistan.  The fraud was that Greentree was using TRG Pakistan’s funds itself.  The idea was to give Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis control over TRG Pakistan even though they owned less than 1% of the company, lawyers of the petitioner told the court. 

This was all part of a broader battle for control over TRG Pakistan that is raging between Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis on one side and TRG Pakistan founder Zia Chishti on the other side.  Zia Chishti has been trying to retake control of TRG Pakistan after he was forced to resign in 2021 based on sexual misconduct allegations made by a former employee of his.  This year those allegations were shown to be without basis in litigation that Chishti launched in the United Kingdom against The Telegraph newspaper which had printed the allegations.  The Telegraph was forced to apologize for 13 separate articles it published about Chishti and paid him damages and legal costs.

After Chishti resigned in 2021, Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis moved to take total control over TRG Pakistan and its various subsidiaries including TRG International and to block out Chishti.  The Sindh High Court’s ruling today has reversed that effort, ruling the scheme fraudulent, illegal, and oppressive.  

It now appears that Zia Chishti will take control of TRG Pakistan in short order when elections are called.  He and his family are now the largest shareholders with over 30% interest.  He is closely followed by companies related to Jahangir Siddiqui & Company which have over a 20% interest.  The result appears to be a complete vindication for Zia Chishti and damning for his rivals Aslam, Khaishgi, Leone, and McGinnis who have been ruled to have been conducting a fraud.  

TRG Pakistan’s share price declined by over 8% on the news on heavy volume.  Market experts say that this was because the tender offer at Rs 75 was gone and that now shares would trade closer to their natural value.  Presently the shares are trading at Rs 59 per share.

According to the court ruling, since 2021, shell company Greentree had purchased approximately 30% of TRG shares using $80 million of TRG’s own money, which means that that the directors of TRG Pakistan allowed company assets to be funneled through offshore affiliates TRG International and Greentree for acquiring TRG’s shares – a move deemed both fraudulent and oppressive to minority shareholders.  The Sindh High Court also found illegal Greentree’s further attempt to purchase another 35% of TRG shares using another $70 million of TRG’s money in a tender offer. 

The ruling is a major victory for the tech entrepreneur Zia Chishti against his former partners and the legal ruling paves the way for him to take control of TRG in a few weeks.

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