Auckland Man Gets 6 Months Home Detention for Fraudulently Applying for Gambling Trust Grants
Last Updated on March 13, 2025
An Auckland man has been sentenced to six months of home detention for attempting to defraud Aotearoa Gaming Trust of $73,000 through gambling trust grant applications. This case highlights the need for strict management in the gambling sector and how vulnerabilities can be exploited by individuals with ill intentions. As the gambling industry continues to evolve, new developments are always being introduced.
For example, the rise of fast payout online casino platforms offers a range of benefits that enhance the gaming experience, such as streamlining the withdrawal process and increasing player satisfaction. However, these advancements also create avenues for fraud, as seen in Gilfedder’s case.
Gilfedder, 24, admitted to accessing a computer system for fraudulent reasons, using forged documents, and altering documents with the intention to deceive. He pleaded guilty and was tried in the Auckland District Court. The accused accessed the Aotearoa Gaming Trust’s online grant application portal between April and July 2023. After trying to pass himself off as two community organizations, he made four grant applications with forged documents, pretending to hold management positions within these organizations.
After declining the applications, Aotearoa Gaming Trust reported Gilfedder to the authorities, leading to thorough investigations, which led to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) finding evidence of fraudulent activities on electronic devices taken from Gilfedder’s home. The DIA’s Director of Gambling, Vicki Scott, had no kind words for anyone who was caught trying to manipulate the community grants system for personal gain. The DIA will ensure that community grants from gambling proceeds are given to organizations that are legitimate and deserving of the grants, and this will be achieved by conducting thorough investigations before approving any applications.
Gilfedder’s case shows the current challenges in New Zealand’s gambling industry. In May 2024, the DIA also uncovered a case that was later described as the largest-ever illegal lottery in New Zealand, which involved over NZ$11 million. Individuals are continually taking advantage of the regulatory challenges in the country to make gambling profits by bypassing legislation.
However, regulatory agencies like the DIA have constantly proved that if anyone is to make a profit through gambling activities, they have to do so legally by following the strict licensing requirements; otherwise, they risk facing the law. Joshua Gilfedder’s sentencing proves how much the DIA is committed to preserving the integrity of New Zealand’s gambling grant system and its vigilance against illegal gambling activities.
According to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, the government has agreed to introduce a gambling regulatory system that will see up to 15 online operators becoming licensed. The minister said that the reason behind the new regulatory system was to provide citizens with safe gambling platforms that were regulated. The Online Gambling Bill will address a number of issues that are currently affecting the country’s gambling market and hopefully reduce opportunities for crime and dishonesty.
