New Zealand is introducing tighter controls on on-line on line casino promoting by banning AI-generated celeb endorsements and warning the general public about fraudulent playing web sites that steal private and monetary info.
The modifications come because the Government prepares to launch a regulated on-line on line casino market. Under the brand new system, 15 licences shall be issued to accredited operators, permitting them to legally supply on-line on line casino playing and promote their providers. Companies that fail to safe a licence by means of the aggressive course of will not be allowed to present on-line on line casino playing within the nation.
Officials have additionally highlighted rising issues about faux endorsements created with synthetic intelligence. The Department of Internal Affairs has pointed to an increase in abroad instances the place playing operators use AI-generated images and movies of well-known public figures with out permission to entice prospects.
One instance cited by officers concerned a fabricated promotional video that includes TVNZ presenter Jenny-May Clarkson alongside an AI-generated model of filmmaker Taika Waititi. The commercial promoted a playing app referred to as “Māori Game” regardless of neither particular person having any involvement with it.
AI Deepfakes Prompt Tougher Advertising Rules
Department of Internal Affairs deputy director of playing Ben Gamboni mentioned the company has seen extra AI-generated playing promotions showing internationally and needs to stop the identical development from taking maintain in New Zealand.
Gamboni mentioned folks whose likenesses are copied in faux commercials can expertise “harm to themselves and their brand”.
The Government has additionally raised issues about rip-off playing web sites that publicize engaging promotions to lure folks into offering delicate info.
“It’s just a scam and a way to get your details, either for identity theft or just to take the money out of your wallet,” Gamboni warned.
Advertising rules now prohibit on-line on line casino operators from utilizing sponsorships or endorsements of their promotions. The restriction additionally applies when endorsements are created utilizing synthetic intelligence relatively than actual folks.
From December, operators that haven’t utilized for a web-based on line casino licence should cease working in New Zealand. Sponsorships and endorsements stay prohibited types of promoting whether or not an operator holds a licence or not.
A Department of Internal Affairs briefing ready for Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden in February defined why officers believed the regulation required stronger safeguards round AI-generated promotions.
“These AI endorsements—including synthetic influencers, deepfakes, and other likeness-based representations—are increasingly used internationally and have already been observed in New Zealand, creating risks of consumer deception and contributing to gambling harm,” Minister van Velden was informed.
Officials additionally suggested that AI-generated promoting utilizing an individual’s likeness “can normalise gambling in ways similar to human endorsements” whereas creating extra dangers by means of misuse of individuals’s identities.
Officials Close Advertising Loophole
The briefing defined that earlier promoting guidelines didn’t clearly cowl AI-generated endorsements as a result of no actual particular person acquired fee for showing within the promotion.
“This creates a loophole in the advertising regulations, which we consider should be addressed,” the paper learn.
The up to date promoting restrictions took impact in July following the recommendation offered to the minister.
They additionally ban on-line on line casino commercials throughout stay broadcasts and inside half-hour earlier than or after these broadcasts. Betting commercials associated to sports activities and racing fall exterior the Online Casino Gambling Act.
Officials expressed concern about “synthetic influencers,” describing them as AI-created personalities designed to resemble actual folks. According to the briefing, these digital figures can vary from extremely practical people to cartoon-style or fantasy characters and should have specific attraction amongst youthful audiences, together with Gen Z.
The division additionally recognized deepfake technology as one other concern as a result of it could possibly imitate the looks or voice of celebrities, influencers, or different people with out their permission. Officials warned these faux endorsements create “substantial risk of deception” as a result of they’ll convincingly seem to present somebody selling a product they’ve by no means supported.
Gamboni mentioned youthful folks may very well be particularly weak to AI-generated celeb endorsements encouraging playing.
Officials additionally acknowledged that issues surrounding artificial influencers and deepfake endorsements prolong past on-line on line casino playing into different areas.
Companies that breach the Online Casino Gambling Act face civil penalties of up to $5 million.
The Department of Internal Affairs is encouraging members of the general public who encounter on-line on line casino commercials, together with celeb endorsements, to seize a screenshot and ship it to the division so it could possibly examine.
Source:
Government bans AI-generated celebrity endorsements for online casinos, warns of scams, newstalkzb.co.nz, July 30, 2026.
