Millie Elder-Holmes fined $5k for promoting online gambling
Monday, 26 May 2025
Millie Elder-Holmes has been fined $5000 for promoting online gambling.
The social media influencer had been using her social media pages to promote overseas gambling sites.
The fine comes after a crackdown at the Department of Internal Affairs on social media influencers who use their profile to promote overseas gambling sites.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has fined Millie Elder-Holmes $5000 for promoting online gambling.
The fine comes after a crackdown at DIA on social media influencers who use their profile to promote overseas gambling sites.
DIA received 50 complaints about the activity of several influencers involved in promoting gambling in New Zealand, including Elder-Holmes, who is the adopted daughter of the late broadcaster Paul Holmes, the NZ Herald reported.
It is illegal for overseas gambling sites to advertise in New Zealand, however, companies can get around the law by using third parties to act for them, such as influencers.
In a statement, a spokesperson for DIA told the Herald that Elder-Holmes had been issued a warning about her activity but failed to stop.
“Ms Elder-Holmes was issued a warning from the department [Internal Affairs] in April 2025 to cease the promotion of online gambling through her on-line platform.
“In spite of the warning Ms Elder Holmes has continued to do so,” they said.
DIA has been on a push to combat gambling harm and has called on social media influencers to act responsibly online.
“The department is committed to reducing gambling harm in New Zealand and urges all social media influencers to use their platforms responsibly.
“We continue to monitor social media influencers for instances of promoting online gambling,” it said.
In November, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced the Government had agreed to look into further regulating online casino gambling.
“A new Online Gambling Bill will be drafted with the purpose to regulate online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and compliant regulated online gambling market,” she said.
Online casino gambling is currently unregulated, so harm prevention and consumer protection requirements do not apply.
Individuals can be fined up to $10k for promoting online gambling.