"New Zealand Providing a Form of Online Gambling"

Unlike the strict and anti-online gaming policies of the United States, citizens of New Zealand may be playing interactive gambling games from home or work as soon as within a year from now. It is the New Zealand Lotteries that have made this possible.

A contract was concluded in mid-August with G-tech. This is the U.S. based company that will be refreshing New Zealand’s entire population of lottery terminals. They will also be introducing a line of new products. This will include RIG, or remote interactive gambling. The actual number of terminals that are to be updated is currently estimated at 1,450. But that numer is already growing.

New Zealand Lotteries spokelady, Helene Morgan-Bandara explains that when it is offered overseas, remote interactive gambling is typically provided over the Internet in addition to being offered through dedicated networks. But it has not as of yet been determined whether or not RIG will be offered over the Internet in New Zealand. Still, Morgan-Bandara notes that under the Gambling Act such a service is possible. She explains that the government can legally offer interactive gaming, under the Gambling Act.

The existing Lottery equipment is operated over the Telecom DDS network. But with the introduction of G-tech technology, there are plans to set up a network using IP as the protocol. The projected new terminals will also be able to link to the web. This entire project is slated to be completed by the middle of next year. Morgan-Bandara expects new products to be introduced at about that time as well.

The total value of the systems renewal contract is estimated at being about forty million dollars, during its nine-year term. The costs for new gaming and IP systems are included in the contract along with the expenses of ongoing support. G-tech was also the provider of the equipment that the New Zealand Lotteries is already using.