New Zealand has passed new legislation preventing children from purchasing lottery products, following the final reading of the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill. The change closes a legal gap that previously allowed minors to access certain lottery tickets under the Gambling Act, despite general age restrictions on gambling.
The amendment clarifies that all lottery products are subject to strict age controls, ensuring that retailers cannot sell any form of gambling-related tickets to children. Authorities say the update is intended to remove ambiguity in the law and prevent unintended access to gambling products by minors.
According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the reform is a straightforward but important measure designed to strengthen consumer protection and ensure consistent enforcement of age restrictions across all lottery sales channels. The government emphasized that the change will help retailers comply more easily while protecting young people from early exposure to gambling.
The broader bill also introduces a range of administrative and regulatory improvements across multiple government systems. These include enhanced information-sharing powers for law enforcement agencies to combat online exploitation, stronger safeguards for compromised passport data, and streamlined identity verification processes through digital services.
Additional provisions aim to improve efficiency in regulatory agencies by delegating responsibilities within classification and censorship offices, simplifying levy systems for insurers, and strengthening oversight mechanisms across various public services.
Officials described the legislation as part of a wider effort to modernize regulatory frameworks and improve operational efficiency across government departments. The changes collectively aim to enhance public safety, strengthen digital governance, and ensure clearer legal protections in areas affecting vulnerable groups, particularly children.
The passage of the bill marks a formal step toward tightening gambling-related protections for minors while also advancing broader administrative reforms across New Zealand’s public sector.
