New Zealand has made good on its vow to require international online gambling operators to pay betting information fees and point of consumption taxes on wagers taken from Kiwi punters.

On Wednesday, newly appointed Racing Minister David Bennett (pictured) introduced the Racing Amendment Bill into Parliament. The Bill (viewable here) seeks to amend the 2003 Racing Act to give the domestic racing and sports betting monopoly a fighting chance against its internationally licensed online competitors.

The changes were originally proposed in 2015 by an Offshore Betting Working Group as a means of shoring up the finances of the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) and its TAB betting service, whose antiquated offering and wonky technology were hopelessly outclassed by the NZRB’s 21st century rivals.

Chief among the proposed changes is the requirement for international operators to pay consumption charges on wagers derived from Kiwi punters. The rate of these charges is unspecified, although the Working Group had recommended charging 2% of betting turnover.