New Zealand to license and regulate online casinos

New Zealand will license online casinos under a landmark move designed to minimize harm, support tax collection and provide consumer protections to citizens, the government has announced.

According to information released by Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden, a regulatory framework is expected to be in place by early 2026 with a limited number of licensed to be made available and allocated by way of auction. Each license will last three years pending the operator meeting all regulatory requirements.

The government will also allow licensed operators to advertise, with strict limits, although they will not be allowed to provide sponsorship. The licenses will be fore online casino games only – not for sports betting or lottery products.

“There will be a licensing system for online casinos, where operators will need to comply with a set of criteria before they will be able to offer services to New Zealanders. It will be illegal for unlicensed operators to offer services to New Zealanders,” van Velden said in a statement.

“Licensing is how we regulate most forms of gambling domestically. This is not intended to increase the amount of gambling New Zealanders do but to ensure operators meet requirements for consumer protection and harm minimisation, as well as paying tax.

“I expect the new regulatory system to be in place from early 2026 and the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback during the Select Committee process. Once established, the Department of Internal Affairs will be the regulator.”

Further details will be announced later this year, the Minister explained.

Regulated online gaming has long been pursued by New Zealand’s only land-based casino operator, SkyCity Entertainment Group, which operates SkyCity Online Casino via a Malta license.

In a Tuesday filing, the company said it “remains supportive of the regulation of online casino gaming in New Zealand with an emphasis on strong host responsibility and delivering community benefits in New Zealand.”