New Zealand is building a licensed online casino market from scratch, and it is doing it on a tight schedule. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 became law in April, regulations followed in July, an auction for the right to apply for a licence was held on 29 September, and unlicensed operators have to be out of the market by 1 December 2026. This guide explains each stage, what the licence conditions mean for players, and what will and will not change once the new regime is running.
Background: why the law changed
Under the Gambling Act 2003, online gambling run from New Zealand was limited to TAB NZ (racing and sports betting) and Lotto NZ (lottery games). Online casino gambling had no legal local provider at all. Offshore casinos filled the gap, and New Zealanders could play on them because the Act never made it an offence for players to do so.
That left the market large but uncontrolled. Offshore sites did not answer to a New Zealand regulator, and until July 2024 they paid no New Zealand gambling tax. The 12% offshore gambling duty introduced from 1 July 2024 dealt with the tax side. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 deals with the rest by turning online casino gambling into a licensed activity with a fixed number of operators.
The Act and its regulations
| Instrument | Status | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 | Passed third reading April 2026; Royal Assent 27 April 2026 | Creates the licensing regime and the offence of operating without a licence |
| Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026 | In force from 3 July 2026 | Sets operator rules on identity verification, payment methods, harm minimisation, advertising, complaints and record-keeping |
| Gambling Act 2003 | Continues to apply | Covers land-based gambling, pokies, TAB NZ and Lotto NZ |
| Gaming Duties Act 1971 (as amended) | Continues to apply | Offshore gambling duty, rising to 16% under the new regime |
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is the regulator. Its role covers allocating and granting licences, monitoring operators, handling complaints and taking enforcement action.
Licence structure
The design choices in the Act are deliberately restrictive.
- Up to 15 licences. The cap keeps the market small enough to supervise.
- One brand per licence. Each licence covers a single customer-facing brand, so you will not see one licence stretched across a family of sister sites.
- No more than three per entity. One company cannot dominate the market by buying most of the licences.
- Fixed terms. Licences last up to three years and can be renewed for up to five more.
For players, the one-brand rule matters most. A brand you see on DIA’s public register is the brand that holds the licence, which makes checking straightforward.
The allocation process, stage by stage
Expressions of interest
DIA opened expressions of interest on 17 July 2026 and closed them on 14 August 2026. Each cost NZ$19,000 to lodge. DIA assessed submissions during August to decide which operators could take part in the auction.
The auction
The auction took place on 29 September 2026 using an ascending clock format. In each round, DIA sets a price and bidders say how many licences they want at that price. The price rises round by round until demand falls to the number of licences available.
Full applications
Winning at auction gives an operator the right to apply for a licence, not the licence itself. From October 2026, successful bidders submit full applications covering their business plan, advertising and marketing strategy, and harm minimisation measures. DIA then decides whether to grant each licence.
The cut-off
Operators that were serving New Zealand customers before 1 May 2026 were allowed to continue during the transition. From 1 December 2026, only licensed operators may provide online casino gambling to people in New Zealand.
| Stage | Dates | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Expressions of interest | 17 July to 14 August 2026 | Eligible bidders identified |
| Auction | 29 September 2026 | Right to apply for up to 15 licences |
| Applications | From October 2026 | DIA assesses each applicant |
| Market cut-off | 1 December 2026 | Unlicensed operators must exit |
| Full operation | Expected 2027 | Regime fully phased in |
Operator obligations
The regulations cover the areas below. DIA has published the framework; the specific operational detail sits in the regulations and in each operator’s approved strategies.
| Area | What licensees must address |
|---|---|
| Age and identity | Take all reasonable steps to verify that customers are 18 or over |
| Harm minimisation | Player protection tools, self-exclusion, and identifying and responding to signs of harmful gambling |
| Payments | Accept only permitted payment methods |
| Advertising | Approved advertising and marketing strategy; sponsorships and affiliate arrangements prohibited |
| Complaints | An internal complaints process, with DIA as the regulator players can escalate to |
| Records and reporting | Record-keeping and regular reporting to DIA |
| Identification | Display DIA’s unique registration icon on platforms and in advertising |
Duty and levies
The offshore gambling duty started at 12% from 1 July 2024. During the Bill’s passage, the rate for the new regime was lifted to 16%, with four percentage points ringfenced for community groups and sport. Licensees also pay the problem gambling levy and GST. Players do not pay tax on recreational winnings.
What the new regime means for players
Gains
- A New Zealand regulator with power over the site you use
- A public register and a registration icon to confirm a licence
- Mandatory age checks, self-exclusion and protection tools
- A complaints route that ends with DIA
Trade-offs
- Fewer brands than the old offshore market
- Tighter promotion and advertising rules
- Some unlicensed sites may keep targeting New Zealanders after December
- A phased start, with full operation expected in 2027
Practical steps before 1 December
- List your offshore accounts. Note which sites hold a balance.
- Withdraw early. Do not leave money on a site that may exit the market.
- Save your records. Download transaction histories while you still have access.
- Close accounts you will not use.
- Check the register before opening an account with any site from December onward.
Unlicensed sites after the deadline. A site still taking New Zealand customers after 1 December 2026 without a licence is operating illegally. If anything goes wrong, DIA’s complaints process will not cover it.
Why a cap of 15?
An open licensing model, where any operator meeting the standards gets a licence, is common in Europe. New Zealand chose a different route. A cap gives the regulator a manageable number of businesses to supervise, and an auction puts a market price on the right to operate. It also means each licence carries real value, which gives operators a strong reason to stay compliant rather than risk losing it.
The cost is choice. Players used to dozens of offshore brands will see far fewer licensed options. Whether that pushes some people back towards unlicensed sites is the main open question about the model, and it is something DIA’s enforcement work will need to address after 1 December.
How to read a licensed site’s footer
Once licensed casinos launch, a few details should be easy to find on every site:
- DIA’s registration icon, linking to or matching the public register.
- The legal name of the licence holder.
- A clear statement that you must be 18 or over.
- Links to self-exclusion, limit-setting tools and the Gambling Helpline.
- The complaints process, including how to escalate to DIA.
If any of these are missing, check the register before you go further.
What stays the same
Sports and racing betting remain with TAB NZ. Lotto NZ continues to run the national lottery games. Pokies in pubs and clubs and the six land-based casinos are still governed by the Gambling Act 2003 and related legislation, with a minimum entry age of 20 at casinos. The Online Casino Gambling Act adds a new, separate channel rather than replacing any of these.
For the protection tools you can expect at licensed sites and how to use them, see our guide to safer gambling tools.
Free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or gamblinghelpline.co.nz. Read our responsible gambling page for more support options.