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Gambling Information

To operate a Class 4 gambling machine or gambling venue in the Queenstown Lakes District, you must apply for consent from the Council before the Gambling Commission will issue an operator’s licence and a venue licence.

Quick links

How it works

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How to apply

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Gambling and our responsibilities

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What we don't have authority to do

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Other Gambling Activity

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Prohibited Prizes for Gambling Activities

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Listed below are key documents for Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venues.

How it works

You need to apply for gambling consent for a class 4 gambling venue licence if you want to:

  • open a new venue where gaming machines are to be located,

  • increase the number of gaming machines at an existing venue,

  • start operating gaming machines that were not on the premises within the previous 6 months,

  • Relocating machines from one venue to another venue.

To get consent, you need to hold a current tavern on-licence with a designation, a club licence, or be opening a new stand-alone TAB venue.

How to apply

Submit your application and pay the fee at the same time

Download and complete the form:

The application fee is $500.

Once you've submitted your application with all required attachments, and paid the fee, the application will be determined within 30 working days.

All details on the information required, how to submit the application, and how to make payment are included in the application form.

Apply for a gaming licence

Once you have received the gambling consent for a class 4 venue licence from the Council, you must apply for a gaming venue licence and operator’s licence through the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

Gambling and our responsibilities

We have responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2003 and Racing Industry Act 2020 to set policies that help regulate and manage Class 4 gambling (pokie machines or pokies) and TAB (racing and sports) betting venues.

However, we are limited in what we can do. Legislation only allows us to create policies to help regulate Class 4 gambling venues and TAB’s.

What we don't have authority to do

We don't have the authority to:

  • control opening hours of TAB’s,

  • close down an existing gambling venue,

  • be involved in decisions about what happens to the money pokie venues make from gambling, such as who receives grants from gaming machine societies,

  • regulate casinos, internet gambling or Lotto outlets.

Other Gambling Activity

There are a number of gambling activities societies and limited individuals can run. Different game rules apply to different activities, some many need licences if the prizes exceed certain limits. These licences must be lodged with the DIA.

 To find out more about different gambling activities please click the option below which applies:

Prohibited Prizes for Gambling Activities

The following items are illegal to be offered as prizes:

  • A firearm, explosive (including ammunition), restricted weapon, or airgun

  • Alcohol

  • Tobacco products

  • A taonga tuturu (an object more than 50 years old that relates to Māori culture, history or society, and was manufactured, modified, used, or brought into New Zealand by Māori)

  • Vouchers or entitlements to commercial sexual services

  • Vouchers or entitlements to any of the other property listed above.

Related Content

Casino and Non-Casino Gaming – Gambling in Pubs and Clubs (Class 4)

Regulatory Agency Roles in Gambling

Fact Sheets (Gambling Act 2023)

Rules for Running a Gambling Activity