After obtaining Council approval for a class 4 venue, applicants are required to apply for a class 4 operator’s licence through the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).​

​The DIA conducts a thorough assessment to ensure operators adhere to responsible gaming codes, ethical standards, and practices designed to reduce harm from problem gambling. The department also evaluates the operator’s reliability and their suitability to manage class 4 gambling activities at the proposed venue.​

​For TAB venues, ownership or leasing must be held by TAB NZ, and no other corporate society should have held a class 4 venue licence at that location within the last five years. ​

​The DIA further assesses the management of problem gambling risks, the appropriateness of the venue, and compliance with the Racing Industry Act 2020. ​

​The venue’s primary function must be sports or racing betting.​

​Class 4 gambling is tightly regulated, with the DIA overseeing licensing, compliance, and enforcement following Council approval and licence issuance. ​

​Operators are required to meet minimum game standards, allocate a portion of gambling revenue to community or economic development projects, implement harm minimisation strategies, and cooperate with monitoring and auditing procedures, frequently using technological tools.​

​For more details, please refer to the gambling section on the DIA’s website.​