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Story: Sports and leisure

Changes in the gambling laws

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Changes in the gambling laws
In 1988 electronic gaming machines were legalised for hotels and clubs, and rapidly became popular. Over one-third of the money spent on gambling went into the machines.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Miranda Wells

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Sports and leisure – Gambling, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2255/changes-in-the-gambling-laws (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 15 January 2010, updated 1 September 2015.