As New Zealand prepares to launch its regulated gambling market, the government has imposed a ban on AI-generated promotions of online casinos featuring celebrities in an attempt to protect users from scam websites and gambling harm. The restrictions come as the country is about to open its regulated market with 15 licensed operators; however, officials
As New Zealand prepares to launch its regulated gambling market, the government has imposed a ban on AI-generated promotions of online casinos featuring celebrities in an attempt to protect users from scam websites and gambling harm.
The restrictions come as the country is about to open its regulated market with 15 licensed operators; however, officials have raised concerns over gambling campaigns that display the faces and voices of celebrities through AI content to appeal to players. The Department of Internal Affairs additionally presented a specific case where a gambling app called Mãori Game showed an ad with AI-generated filmmaker Taika Waititi and TVNZ presenter Jenny-May Clarkson.
The Department of Internal Affairs shared:
“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.”
Deputy director of gambling at the Department of Internal Affairs, Ben Gamboni, further stressed that similar harmful content has been circulating in the United Kingdom and the United States. Gamboni also added that such AI-generated personas and deepfakes of celebrities and influencers endorsing illegal gambling products could harm their brand and themselves as well.
Deputy director Gamboni commented:
“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.”
Violations of New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Act could lead to fines of up to $5 million.