New Zealand’s New Casino Regulation
Despite being a famous gambling destination, New Zealand’s online gambling market has been unregulated for decades.
Both local and offshore operators have enjoyed decades of relatively relaxed laws. This has allowed them to offer their services to New Zealanders without obtaining a local license, paying taxes or adhering to any local law.
This is set to change as New Zealand has now introduced a new Online Casino Gambling Bill. The new bill features updated regulations, licensing requirements and prohibitions for gambling operators.
In this guide, we will go over the details of this new law and what it means for prospective operators.
Key Features of New Zealand’s New Casino Gambling Law
The new online casino gambling bill in New Zealand proposes several major changes to the country’s gambling regulation.
The law will allow the issuance of licenses to a limited number of casino operators. It also stipulates some prohibitions to their general operation, advertising and licensed operators.
Some of the highlights of this new law includes:
- All operators in New Zealand must get a license before they can operate legally in the country. For now, the regulatory body only has 15 slots available. This means only 15 operators will be eligible to get a license.
- Licensed operators can only offer online casino games. This includes slot machines, and table games.
- Online racing and sports betting has also become highly regulated. The only operator allowed to provide online racing and sports betting services to New Zealanders is TAB New Zealand.
- The casino operator license will have a three-year validity period. After this expires, the operators may apply for a renewal of up to five years.
- Once licensed, operators are allowed to offer casino gaming services to New Zealanders. Licensed operators can also advertise their services within the country.
- Each license must be tied to a specific brand, platform or website. Once issued a license, operators must ensure that their platform becomes fully operational within 90 days. They must also b operational for at least 270 days in a year to maintain the license.
- The maximum number of licenses a single operator can hold is three. This means all 15 available licensing spots can be taken by 15 individual companies or a minimum of 5 companies. Operators cannot transfer or sell their license.
- Operators must ensure that they restrict their services to users below the age of 18. They must also take reasonable steps to ensure player protection.
- Operators are allowed to advertise their online gambling platform. But all ads must be in line with prescribed regulations. They can also run loyalty programs and provide bonuses to attract users.
How to Obtain a New Zealand Casino Gambling License According to the New Law
With only 15 licenses available, companies trying to get a New Zealand license will have to go through a three-stage auction process. The process for obtaining the license are highlighted below:
Step 1: Expression of interest (EOI)
The new application process will begin from March or April 2026. The Secretary of Internal Affairs will issue a call for operators to submit their Expression of Interest.
The EOI should provide information about the organization. This includes details about the ownership structure, compliance history and other operational details.
Step 2: Competitive Bidding
For the next step, interested parties will go through a competitive auction process. The top 15 operators from this auction will be selected.
For unsuccessful applicants, their initial bid amount will be returned to them. Any operator that fails to get a license must exit the New Zealand market latest by July 2026.
Step 3: Application
Successful companies from the bidding phase will be invited to submit a license application. Their application will be judged based on the pre-determined eligibility criteria.
After review, they will receive a verdict from the regulator. Operators that are currently active in New Zealand may continue to provide gambling services while their application is under review.
But they’re not allowed to advertise their platform until the license has been approved.
Requirements For a New Zealand Casino License
Successful applicants from the bidding phase still have to fulfill the licensing requirements. This is necessary to get their application approved and maintain their license.
Here are some of the basic requirements that they must fulfill to pass the application process:
- Applicants must submit information that demonstrates their approach to various aspects of their business operation. This includes details about advertising, marketing, consumer protection and regulatory compliance.
- Applicants must submit a comprehensive business plan. The business plan will show how the operator plans to carry out their online gambling services in New Zealand.
- The business plan must include information about the company’s goals, management structure, financial plan and future projection.
- Operators must have a physical address as well as an online platform. The application should include a description of the platform’s user interface and branding
- Operators have to pay a few as part of the application process. However, the exact price of this fee has not been announced yet.
Conclusion
The release of New Zealand’s new casino regulation is a clear move towards a more tightly regulated gambling industry in the country.
Established operators and those thinking of entering the New Zealand market have to be aware of these new laws.
The full details of the application process are yet to be rolled out. But operators can start preparing and learning how the new regime could affect their business operations.
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