Pokies have long been a vital cog in New Zealand’s thriving gambling industry. Prominent in pubs and clubs throughout the country, they have established themselves as a cultural quirk of Kiwi gambling preferences while contributing significantly towards regional communities. With the global gambling landscape undergoing significant transformation in recent years, however, most notably seeing the rapid emergence of a popular iGaming scene, has New Zealand’s traditional pokies market felt the impact of this change? We spoke to Adam Volz, industry expert at Casino.org, the world’s leading online casino guide and trusted voice on the iGaming space, to get the inside scoop.
Before delving into the climate of today’s gambling market and the changes we’ve seen, we first took a step back to look at just how pokies became such a prominent part of New Zealand’s gambling scene.
“Kiwis would start seeing slot machines first appear around the early 1990s, with hotels, bars, and clubs up and down the country fitting them into their venues. From the get-go, these slots, or pokies as they would eventually become better known as, were an instant hit.”
According to Adam Volz, the emergence of pokies at this time was facilitated by the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1991, a piece of legislation that would lay the groundwork for the rise of non-casino gambling in the country.
“Before this time, gambling in New Zealand was tightly controlled, with only really racehorse betting and the national lottery existing as regulated forms of gambling. The 1991 Act would change this, bringing small-scale gambling activities into the regulated landscape. It focused on low-level activities like raffles, bingo, as well as scratch cards, but the most significant impact was, of course, the legalization of slot machines in venues like pubs and clubs.”
The most interesting aspect of this legislation, explained Adam Volz, however, was the way in which it outlined how gaming revenues had to be used.
“Perhaps the most significant aspect of these reforms, and what now sets New Zealand’s pokies market apart from others, is the element of ownership and revenue streams. Under the act, pokies could only be operated by not-for-profit organizations, and the revenues generated from machines had to be funneled into the community, helping to fund things like local sports groups and vital health services.”
This aspect of New Zealand’s gambling model is still fundamental today, but this doesn’t mean the sector hasn’t experienced road bumps and regulatory challenges along the way.
“While the 1991 Act clearly set out the ideals of the government’s approach to pokies, ultimately it lacked the necessary oversight. This would become more obvious as the popularity of pokies began to increase. Eventually, the government brought through the Gambling Act in 2003, which updated regulations, most notably defining pokies as a ‘class 4’ gaming type. Essentially, this recognized the inherent risks associated with them, enforcing stricter oversight on their operation and use.”
Adam Volz would go on to mention the ‘sinking’ lid policies that followed the 2003 act, where local governments would begin reducing the number of machines in their area. This indicated a shift in public and government perception of the machines, which by this point had reached a peak in popularity with a reported 25,000 machines nationwide.
We then discussed the current trends of the pokies market, around twenty years on from the apparent peak of the early 2000s.
“While it’s true that public perception has certainly shifted, with people becoming more aware of the potential issues surrounding addiction and problem gambling, pokies continue to be popular in the country and still generate significant revenues. In fact, profits from pokies surpassed $1 billion in 2023, which is the first time it’s reached this level since 2003. This indicates that pokies are still going strong, if anything, beginning to become more popular again.”
He then once again alluded to the unique position that New Zealand’s pokies market finds itself in regarding its duality as an integral source of community funding and as a potentially impactful form of gambling.
“The market walks this bizarre tightrope where it has become a vital source of income for the country while also remaining a point of growing social concern surrounding the negative implications of excessive gambling. That is just the nature of New Zealand’s model and so long as the government continues to respond effectively to emerging issues, the pokies market should expect to continue its positive trajectory.”
Considering the rising influence that online platforms are now having on gambling markets across the world, Adam Volz described the current situation in New Zealand, providing some insight into upcoming legislative changes that look set to impact the landscape going forward.
“There is no doubt that the emergence of iGaming and the prevalence of high-quality online casinos are influencing the overall Kiwi gambling scene. Many players, particularly those from younger generations, are becoming increasingly likely to head to online platforms as opposed to traditional pokies. Frankly, this emerging trend is a critical reason behind the government’s plans to introduce a regulated online casino in 2026.”
Currently, New Zealand doesn’t license online casinos within the country, with players instead accessing offshore platforms to access their favorite games. Adam Volz believes that this has resulted in a significant portion of the revenues traditionally generated from pokies now heading out of the country, instead of into the community.
“By introducing a regulated online market, not only can the government claw back some of the revenues they have lost to offshore sites, but they can also create a safer playing environment for their gambling community.”
With the new iGaming market set to launch in February 2026, it appears as though the government has recognized the shift in gambling preferences amongst its players and is reacting to ensure gambling activities continue to be controlled centrally. However, with offshore operators expected to dominate this space, there remain challenges ahead to ensure a safe gambling environment is maintained. As the pokies market continues to evolve from its traditional roots, players and regulators alike will be hoping for continued success.
