Record-Breaking $11M Scam: Christchurch Director Convicted in New Zealand’s Largest Illegal Lottery
By Lions Roar Crime Desk
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND (Saturday, January 24, 2026) — A Christchurch businessman has admitted to orchestrating the largest illegal lottery in New Zealand’s history, a massive online operation that raked in over $11 million in just over a year.
Waiariki McIlroy-Jones, the director of Jonez LRC Ltd, appeared in the Christchurch District Court yesterday, pleading guilty to charges of conducting illegal gambling and making a pecuniary gain under the Gambling Act 2003.
🏆 Houses, Boats, and High-End Cars
The scale of the operation stunned investigators from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Using online platforms to bypass strict gambling laws, McIlroy-Jones lured participants with a luxury lifestyle dream. Prizes offered included:
- A freehold house.
- High-value boats and caravans.
- Luxury vehicles and large cash sums.
The DIA revealed that in a little over 12 months, the scheme generated $11 million in revenue, all of which was funneled toward personal gain rather than community benefit, as required by law.
⚖️ “Sales Promotion” or Scam?
McIlroy-Jones attempted to frame the massive lottery as a “sales promotion scheme” to avoid needing a Class 3 gambling license. Under New Zealand law, any gambling with prizes exceeding $5,000 must be conducted by a not-for-profit society for community purposes.
“Mr. McIlroy-Jones sought to pass off his online lottery… entirely for self-serving interests,” said Vicki Scott, DIA Director of Gambling. “This prosecution signals our lack of tolerance for anyone who tries to evade the strict controls that keep our communities safe.”
💰 Assets Frozen: Police Seek Forfeiture
The fallout from the conviction is set to hit McIlroy-Jones’s pocketbook hard.
- Restraining Orders: The High Court has already placed restraining orders on the money and assets linked to the crime.
- Forfeiture: The Commissioner of Police is now moving to seize these assets permanently under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.
📊 The Illegal Gambling Surge
| Metric | Detail |
| Total Revenue Generated | $11 Million+ |
| Investigation Scope | Multiple searches in Christchurch & North Canterbury |
| Sentence Date | May 29, 2026 |
| DIA Activity | 76 complaints investigated in the past year |
⚠️ A Warning to Online Operators
This case is the first of its kind in New Zealand involving a large-scale online illegal lottery. The DIA has warned that they are actively monitoring social media and web platforms for similar “unlicensed” schemes. “Anyone involved in running an illegal lottery of any scale can expect to find themselves the focus of our investigators,” Scott warned.
