Government in New Zealand Puts More Pressure on Sport Betting

Murray McCully, Sport and Recreation Minister in New Zealand, announced new strict measures against “spot” betting and match-fixing in the country.

He gave further information about the new Policy on Sports Match-Fixing and Related Corruption and added that the government is planning to amend the Crimes Act 1961, so that it can “ensure the most serious form of match-fixing is a criminal offence.”

McCully commented for the gambling news: “New Zealand is not immune to the international risks of match-fixing and we are taking pre-emptive steps to protect our well-deserved reputation for playing fair and the integrity of New Zealand sport.”

Potential changes

Currently, the authorities focus is on “spot” betting, where punters can bet on how likely it is for a certain delivery in cricket to happen.

This specific type of betting is considered high risk for fixing, because it is difficult to detect and easy for a player to initiate.

The proposed policy asks the operators offering bet on sports in New Zealand to think about prohibiting “spot” betting, or deal with complications with the authorities.

Additionally, sports betting providers are recommended to limit various bets at high stakes, for example bets on minors or on events where minors are competing.