The New Zealand Government announced last summer that it plans to open a regulated online casino market by 2026. Despite opposition from physical casino operators, authorities have confirmed that 15 licenses will be issued at auction.
888, bet365, SpinBet, Spin City, and Betway are among the offshore online casinos that have expressed interest in securing a spot. Local operators SkyCity, Tab NZ, Christchurch Casino, Class 4 societies, and Grand Casino Dunedin are also vying for a spot and are likely to get it.
Implementing regulations will take time. The above operators are already registered and paying Goods and Services Tax through the current offshore system. In total, 36 operators offer online gambling services to NZ players through the same system.
Although roughly a third of currently registered companies will be granted a license, they already account for 90% of the GST collected in the past few years.
What’s unclear at the moment is how many NZ players choose to play at international online casinos that aren’t registered with the Government and aren’t going to apply for an official license when they become available. It will be interesting to see what measures the authorities will take to restrict their reach—something that even neighboring Australia hasn’t fully managed, despite trying for over 10 years.
The Government hopes that by properly regulating a dozen operators, it will immediately attract players to their platforms and protect them through robust KYC checks, gaming control tools, and responsible gambling measures.
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Michael has reviewed and verified all information on this page. Having worked in the iGaming industry for over 8 years, he is the most capable person to help you navigate online casinos, pokies, and the Australian gambling landscape.
