08/08/2025
New Zealand Sport is leading an important initiative in response to the proposed Online Casino Gambling Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
A collective group of National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), including NZ Football and NZ Netball, has engaged Martin Snedden to coordinate a nationwide effort to highlight the significant risks this Bill poses to community sport funding.
To put it in perspective for football, approximately $19 million in grants is distributed annually across the game, with $14.5 million going directly to clubs. If the proposed changes proceed without amendment, this critical funding—much of it generated through Class 4 gambling (“pokies”)—could be significantly reduced or lost altogether.
Funding from Class 4 gambling is critical to Parklands United Sports Club across all our codes with it contributing a large part of our revenue each year, enabling us to provide and deliver grassroots programmes, so, in its absence or its significant reduction, how the club is run would look entirely different, including a huge increase in subscription fees!
📌 Why this matters: 📌
New online gambling operators would not be required to share any proceeds with communities
A reduction in traditional pokies revenue is likely, which could reduce available community grants
This is our opportunity to ask Parliament to require that online gambling also benefits the community, as land-based gambling does
📌 What You Need to Know: 📌
Submissions on the Bill close on 17 August and can be completed at https://www.parliament.nz/en/ECommitteeSubmission/54SCGOA_SCF_15AF0468-FAB5-4BFD-AB1D-08DDB77FF1E9/CreateSubmission
While NZ Football, Mainland Football, Christchurch Netball and clubs will be making official submissions, it is vital that individuals also submit their own, highlighting how this funding supports your specific activities, programmes, and people.
We urge you to treat this as a priority issue. A high volume of well-informed, locally relevant submissions will help ensure the voice of community sport is clearly heard by decision-makers.
