The Department of Internal Affairs has given notice to gambling website 20Bet to stop advertising in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The offshore gambling website is registered in Cyprus but has been targeting New Zealanders with paid ads on YouTube promoting online pokies and sports betting.<\/p>\n
Promoting overseas gambling is prohibited under the Gambling Act, and sports and racing betting is banned outright unless controlled by TAB.<\/p>\n
“The Department is aware of recent advertising by 20Bet on YouTube,” DIA director of gambling Vicki Scott told RNZ.<\/p>\n
“We have instructed 20Bet to cease these activities. We will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary.”<\/p>\n
Copy on 20Bet’s website targets New Zealanders directly and claims that “taking risks is something that Kiwis like doing.”<\/p>\n
RNZ has approached 20Bet for comment.<\/p>\n
Andr\u00e9e Froude, director of advocacy for the Problem Gambling Foundation, applauded the action by DIA.<\/p>\n
“We’re seeing too many of these operators who are just blatantly advertising to New Zealanders despite the fact that it’s illegal,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I know sometimes the DIA has tried to take action against some of these operators and it’s difficult when they’re based overseas. Hopefully we will see the advertising stop.”<\/p>\n
She said offshore gambling websites would often try their luck in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
“We’re hearing about it all the time,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This is an opportunity to urge people to report it to the DIA when they see these offshore operators advertising particularly on YouTube, that’s the platform where a lot of these ads come through.”<\/p>\n