The Council is tasked with establishing policies to regulate gambling and betting within its jurisdiction. These policies may include restrictions on gambling activities, such as limiting the number of venues and their locations.​

Local policies facilitate community involvement in determining where and how gambling and betting should be allowed.​

Class 4 Gambling Venue Policy​

Under the Gambling Act 2003, the Council is required to maintain a Gambling Venue Policy. This policy governs the operation of class 4 venues within the district, including whether they are permitted and, if so, their locations. It may also set limits on the maximum number of gaming machines per venue and include rules for venue relocation.​

Matamata-Piako Council aims to balance gambling accessibility with restrictions on the number of venues and machines. The Council acknowledges the importance of reducing gambling-related harm while supporting community funding generated from gambling proceeds.​

Currently, the policy restricts the district to 15 venues and 201 machines, allowing relocations under specific conditions. The complete policy can be accessed here.

​TAB Venue Policy​

In line with the Racing Industry Act 2020, the Council enforces a TAB Venue Policy that outlines whether TAB venues can be established within the district and their permissible locations.​

The policy limits each town—Matamata, Morrinsville, and Te Aroha—to a single TAB venue. The current policy is available here​

Policy Review​

The last review of these policies occurred in 2025, with another scheduled in three years as mandated by legislation.​

During reviews, the Council assesses the social impacts of gambling and betting on the community and encourages public input.​

A Social Impact Assessment is conducted to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of gambling activities. This assessment helps the community understand these impacts and supports informed decisions during policy evaluations and Council planning.​