Major illegal lottery scheme uncovered in New Zealand

Added:
Major illegal lottery scheme uncovered in New Zealand

In what officials in New Zealand are referring to as the biggest illicit lottery scheme discovered in the country, a man from Christchurch and his business are being charged for serious offenses.

The defendants are charged by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) to have earned NZ$11.12 million ($6.79 million) in income over the course of a year by providing high-value prizes, like luxury automobiles and boats, in illegal lotteries that they sold online.

According to the DIA, the Gambling Act 2003 requires that any lottery prizes above NZ$5,000 ($3,000) be administered by a not-for-profit association for recognized purposes and have a Class 3 gambling license. The purpose of this law is to protect participants and maintain the operation’s integrity.

After an inquiry, the police filed a High Court case against the defendants, referring to a DIA recommendation.

DIA gambling director Vicki Scott stated:

“Our strict licensing requirements are there for a reason. We will not hesitate to respond firmly when we see instances of illegal gambling such as unlicensed online lotteries. We have no tolerance for those who seek to profit by bypassing the rules.”

Under the Gambling Act of 2003, the individual and his company are charged with conducting illicit gambling, promoting illegal gambling, and profiting financially from illegal gambling. The defendants appeared in Christchurch District Court last Thursday afternoon.

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