Azaria HowellPolitical Reporter·Newstalk ZB·29 Jul, 2026 05:00 PM4 mins to read‌The Department of Internal Affairs is granting 15 licences to online casino operators in a competitive process. Sites face advertising restrictions, including on AI-generated content designed to mimic celebrity or influencer endorsements. Photo / NZMEOnline casino gambling websites are being prohibited from creating artificial intelligence-generated deepfake endorsements from celebrities and influencers to lure would-be gamblers in.

A specific warning is also being issued around “scambling” – or non-legitimate gambling sites operating in New Zealand to commit identity theft and credit card fraud, ahead of