Illegal NZ gambling venues raided, poker games shut down
New Zealand authorities have discovered an illegal poker network running across Auckland after a series of raids uncovered nine suspected gambling venues operating outside the law.
The Department of Internal Affairs said the locations, spread across Albany, Botany, Epsom, Newmarket and Auckland’s city centre, were allegedly hosting unlicensed poker games in breach of the Gambling Act 2003. Investigators seized poker tables, chips, cash, cryptocurrency and electronic devices during the enforcement action.
Department of Internal Affairs Gambling Director Vicki Scott said the poker games were high stakes and often lead to players taking out predatory loans and getting into debt.
MORE: Legal gambling in New Zealand
“Combined with the illegal gambling is some really predatory lending practices with these operators offering credit to vulnerable people who are falling further and further into debt,” Scott told Morning Report.
“I’ve had reports of some complainants telling us they’ve had to hand over significant assets like cars and houses to repay the debt, even in some cases having to work for the organisers doing things like selling drugs to repay the gambling debt they owe.”
Officials estimate the illegal operations generated around $5 million, with financial investigations continuing. Scott said authorities were examining potential links to organised crime and were working with police and overseas agencies.
“There are some links, they’re not all linked. We are seeing predominantly Chinese organisers and participants, and there are some links within that group, but we’re still working through the evidence that we’ve seized,” she said.
“These are quite high stakes operations, we’re looking at a spend across the venues of we think about $5 million in total, and what I’m hearing is that the buy-in for these games is in the thousands… These are high rollers.”
Scott described the venues as illegal commercial operations that appeared legitimate, often promoted through signage and social media. She warned players were frequently unaware they were participating in unlawful gambling and had no consumer protections.
The regulator urged the public to be cautious, watch for red flags such as cash-only play or credit offers, and report suspected illegal gambling activity.
