The Government has introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill. This aims to regulate online casino gambling run by overseas companies that is currently not controlled in New Zealand.

What the Government wants to do makes sense overall, but there is one big problem. The Bill does not include any plan to return a share of gambling money to communities or sport.

For the past 50 years, all political parties in New Zealand have agreed that if gambling is legal, some of the money must go back to communities.
That is why:

• Pokie trusts give 40 percent of their funds to community groups
• Lotto and TAB also support community and sport funding

This new law would break that tradition. It puts no rule on online gambling companies to give anything back.

 This is happening at a time when sports like table tennis are struggling

• Costs keep going up.
• Sponsorship is harder to find.
• Support from local councils is falling.
• Membership is harder to maintain.

✅ Our recommendation:
The Bill must include a requirement that a share of online gambling profits is returned to the community and sport, just like other gambling operators.

🗣️ We need your help now.

Please take a few minutes to help protect table tennis and community sport:

✔ Make a submission as an individual
✔ Make a submission for your club or association
✔ Share this post with others

👉 Submit here: Online Casino Gambling Bill Submission - New Zealand Parliament

Closing date for submission: 17 August 2025

Let’s work together and make sure the Government hears us.

#ProtectCommunitySport #TableTennisNZ #OnlineGamblingBill #TTNZ #StandUpForSport #GrassrootsMatter