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Part 4 - Harm prevention and minimisation, enforcement, and other matters - Subpart 4 - Problem gambling levy

317 Integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health

Subpart 4—Problem gambling levy

 

317Integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health
(1)The Government may allocate responsibility for an integrated problem gambling strategy to a department, which need not be the Department responsible for this Act.

 

(2)An integrated problem gambling strategy must include—
(a)measures to promote public health by preventing and minimising the harm from gambling; and
(b)services to treat and assist problem gamblers and their families and whanau; and
(c)independent scientific research associated with gambling, including (for example) longitudinal research on the social and economic impacts of gambling, particularly the impacts on different cultural groups; and
(d)evaluation.

 

318 Process for developing integrated problem gambling strategy

318Process for developing integrated problem gambling strategy
(1)The department that has responsibility for implementing the problem gambling strategy must do the following things in developing the strategy:
(a)undertake a needs assessment; and
(b)prepare a strategy in draft; and
(c)develop costings for the draft strategy; and
(d)in the case of the initial levy period, estimate the costs of the department that has responsibility for the integrated problem gambling strategy during the transition to the strategy in the period before the introduction of the initial levy; and
(e)take into account any under-recovery or over-recovery of levy (gambling sector by gambling sector) in previous levy periods; and
(f)estimate annual funding requirements for the strategy for a 3-year period; and
(g)estimate, using the formula set out in section 320, levy rates for each gambling sector liable to pay the levy; and
(h)consult on the matters outlined in paragraphs (a) to (g) with—
(i)at least 1 representative of corporate societies licensed to operate gaming machines in commercial venues; and
(ii)at least 1 representative of corporate societies licensed to operate gaming machines in non-commercial venues; and
(iii)at least 1 representative of casino licence holders; and
(iv)TAB NZ; and
(v)the New Zealand Lotteries Commission; and
(vi)representatives of the providers of problem gambling services; and
(vii)any other groups it believes are likely to be affected significantly by the proposed strategy.

 

(2)The department responsible for the integrated problem gambling strategy must then submit the proposed strategy and the proposed levy rates to the Gambling Commission and the responsible Ministers.

 

(3)On receipt of the proposed integrated problem gambling strategy and the proposed levy rates, the Gambling Commission, or its expert representative, must convene a meeting to consult on the strategy and the rates.

 

(4)At a minimum, the following persons must be requested to attend the meeting referred to in subsection (3):
(a)the department responsible for the integrated problem gambling strategy:
(b)the department responsible for the administration of this Act:
(c)1 or more representatives of gambling operators who will be subject to the levy:
(d)1 or more representatives of providers of problem gambling services:
(e)1 or more representatives of any other groups the Gambling Commission believes are likely to be significantly affected.

 

(5)Within 10 working days of the meeting convened under subsection (3), the Gambling Commission must submit a report to the responsible Ministers making recommendations on the total annual amount of the problem gambling levy for the relevant 3-year period and the levy rate for each gambling sector or each gambling operator or each class of gambling operator that is subject to the levy.

 

(6)To avoid doubt, the Gambling Commission may engage an expert under subsection (3) in any area that it considers relevant (for example, facilitation or mediation).

 

Section 318(1)(e): replaced, on 3 March 2015, by section 106 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

 

319 Regulations relating to problem gambling levy

319Regulations relating to problem gambling levy
(1)The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the responsible Ministers after they have considered the report submitted to them by the Gambling Commission under section 318(5), make regulations requiring gambling operators to pay a levy to the Crown.

 

(2)The purpose of the levy is to recover the cost of developing, managing, and delivering the integrated problem gambling strategy.

 

(3)The regulations may impose the levy on a gambling operator, or classes of gambling operator, in a specified sector of gambling or specified sectors of gambling and may prescribe the following:
(a)the sectors whose gambling operators must pay the levy:
(b)the gambling operator or class of gambling operator that must pay the levy:
(c)the levy rate for each gambling operator or each class of gambling operator or each gambling sector:
(d)the period for which the levy is payable or may be collected:
(e)the time by which a levy must be paid, and a penalty for late payment:
(f)the value of items W1 and W2 in the formula in section 320:
(g)any other matters necessary or desirable to calculate, administer, collect, and enforce the levy.

 

(4)Regulations made under subsection (1),—
(a)if made on or before 30 June in any year, expire on 30 June in the following year except in so far as they are expressly confirmed by Act of Parliament passed during that year; and
(b)if made on or after 1 July in any year, expire on 31 December in the following year except in so far as they are expressly confirmed by Act of Parliament passed before the end of that following year.

 

(5)The expiry of regulations under subsection (4) does not affect the validity of an act done pursuant to, or in accordance with, the regulations before the date on which the regulations expire.

 

320 Calculating levy

320Calculating levy
(1)The formula in subsection (2) provides a mechanism for allocating among gambling operators, and collecting from them, the approximate cost of an integrated problem gambling strategy.

 

(2)The following formula is to be used to assist in estimating the proposed levy rates payable by gambling operators:

 

levy rate =

(((A × W1) + (B × W2))

x C) ± R

   D

 

where—

Ais the estimated current player expenditure in a sector divided by the total estimated current player expenditure in all sectors subject to the levy

Bis the customer presentations to problem gambling services that can be attributed to gambling in a sector divided by total customer presentations to problem gambling services in which a sector that is subject to the levy can be identified

Cis the funding requirement for the period for which the levy is payable

Dis the forecast player expenditure in a sector for the period during which the levy is payable

Ris the estimated under-recovery or over-recovery of levy from a sector in previous levy periods

W1 and W2 are weights, the sum of which is 1.

 

(3)In this section,—
(a)player expenditure,—
(i)for TAB NZ, has the same meaning as betting profits in section 73(3) of the Racing Industry Act 2020; and
(ii)for a gaming machine operator (including TAB NZ), has the same meaning as gaming machine profits in section 104(5); and
(iii)for a casino operator, has the same meaning as casino win in section 12M of the Gaming Duties Act 1971; and
(iv)for the Lotteries Commission, means turnover less prizes paid and payable:
(b)the proposed amounts of A and B, and the periods to which they apply, must take into account the latest, most reliable, and most appropriate sources of information from—
(i)the Inland Revenue Department or the department responsible for the administration of this Act on expenditure; and
(ii)the department responsible for the integrated problem gambling strategy on customer presentations to problem gambling services:
(c)the proposed amount of C must take into account the approximate cost to Government of the integrated problem gambling strategy in the 3-year period for which the levy is payable:
(d)the proposed amount of D must take into account—
(i)the latest, most reliable, and most appropriate sources of information on past expenditure available from the Inland Revenue Department or the department responsible for the administration of this Act; and
(ii)advice from the Secretary on an appropriate forecasting method:
(e)the values of W1 and W2 must be specified in the regulations.

 

(4)The problem gambling levy payable by a gambling operator is calculated by multiplying player expenditure by the levy rate calculated for that operator.

 

(5)To avoid doubt, in calculating the problem gambling levy, and in making regulations under this section,—
(a)the amount of player expenditure may be for less than a year (for example, a week, a month, or a quarter); and
(b)the levy may be calculated and collected at intervals of less than a year (for example weekly, monthly, or quarterly).

 

Section 320(2) formula: amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(1) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(2) formula item R: inserted, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(2) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3): amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(3) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3)(a): amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(4) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3)(a)(ii): amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(5) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3)(b)(i): amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(6) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3)(c): replaced, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(7) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

Section 320(3)(d)(i): amended, on 3 March 2015, by section 107(8) of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

 

320A Levy may be calculated for period of less than 3 years

320A    Levy may be calculated for period of less than 3 years

(1)Sections 319 and 320 authorise (but do not require) the calculation of the levy on the basis that—
(a)it will be payable only for a period that commences partway through the 3-year period to which it relates; but
(b)it is set at a rate sufficient to recover the full cost of the integrated problem gambling strategy for the whole of that 3-year period.

 

(2)Subsection (1) is for the avoidance of doubt.

 

Section 320A: inserted, on 3 March 2015, by section 108 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

 

321 Initial levy

321Initial levy

[Repealed]

 

Section 321: repealed, on 3 March 2015, by section 109 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).

 

322 Early reconsideration

322Early reconsideration

If the department responsible for the integrated problem gambling strategy considers that a significant change in the gambling environment warrants an earlier reconsideration of the strategy or the levy or the levy rates, it may initiate the process in this subpart within the 3-year period.

 

323 Collection

323Collection
(1)The problem gambling levy is neither a tax nor a duty.

 

(2)The powers of collection, recovery, and enforcement in the Gaming Duties Act 1971 and the Tax Administration Act 1994 apply to the levy as if it were a duty.

 

(3)An amount of unpaid levy is recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Crown.

 

324 Accountability

324Accountability

The department responsible for the integrated problem gambling strategy must report annually to Parliament on the expenditure of funds appropriated by Parliament for the strategy against money collected by the problem gambling levy.

 

325 Problem gambling committee

325Problem gambling committee

[Repealed]

 

Section 325: repealed, on 3 March 2015, by section 110 of the Gambling Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 3).