A loot box is a randomized in-game reward that players can purchase or earn through gameplay. The rewards usually include key game pieces, updated weapons, avatar upgrades and other gameplay components depending on the type of game. The loot boxes are randomized, and players don’t know what they will receive until they purchase or acquire the loot box. Loot boxes have come under fire in New Zealand (NZ) and from … [Read more...]
New Zealand Gambling Activity Is On The Rise
New Zealand land based casinos are seeing an increase in the rise of visitor spending courtesy of the expanding tourism market. Local Kiwis are also spending more in pokies and casinos, however there is another source of legal NZ online gambling entertainment that makes up the lion’s share of activity—licensed offshore casinos. It is reported that New Zealand residents spend around USD $600 a year on gambling. … [Read more...]
Former Casino Manager Sentenced To 7 Years In Jail After Stealing Millions
A Hamilton district court in New Zealand has recently jailed a former casino manager and a senior employee of a local school for over 7 years. The court found Tessa Fiona Grant guilty of 10 fraud-related charges after a total of $2.77 million dollars had gone missing in various fraudulent transactions from both of her places of occupation. She will serve at least half of a 7-year, 8-month prison sentence before being … [Read more...]
New Zealand Following Through On Enforcing Fees For International Betting Sites
The government of New Zealand is fulfilling its promise of forcing international online gambling brands to pay betting information fees and point of consumption taxes on wagers taken from residents. David Bennet, the newly appointed Racing Minister, introduced the Racing Amendment Bill into Parliament. The bill would amend the 2003 Racing Act in hopes of increasing profits for the domestic racing and sports betting … [Read more...]
New Zealand Trust Operator Jailed For Pokie Fraud
For three years, from 2010 to 2013, a 58-year-old man named Michael O’Brien was able to slide under the radar of the department that regulates the gaming industry in New Zealand. O’Brien was the guy running the Bluegrass Trust, a Blenheim-based gambling machine community that he used to obtain millions of dollars in secret payments made illegally. He appeared in New Zealand’s High Court early in July and was … [Read more...]