A bill designed to regulate, licence and tax online casinos in New Zealand has taken one step closer to legalisation after reaching Royal Assent.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill passed through its third and final reading in New Zealand’s parliament, as confirmed by internal affairs minister Brooke van Velden.
The legislation will allow for up to 15 licence holders in the New Zealand market following a competitive application process.
Operators will be obligated to exclude problem gamblers and adhere to stringent harm prevention and consumer protection requirements.
Once signed into law, the legislation is expected to come into effect in stages.
Core regulatory and enforcement provisions will apply from 1 May 2026, with the licensing regime and market closure to unlicensed operators taking effect from 1 December 2026.
Operators will be able to express their interest in obtaining a licence from July onwards, with the competitive auction process slated for September.
As per EGM data, almost a quarter of gambling traffic in New Zealand comes from operators licensed in Curaçao.
Crypto-first operators such as Stake, Gamdom, Roobet and ViperSpin are ranked by EGM – EGR’s data partner – as some of the most visited sites in the Antipodean market.
Global operators including bet365, Betway, 888 and Sky City have all previously expressed interest in taking on one of the 15 licences.
Van Velden said: “The Department of Internal Affairs will regulate the sector using strengthened enforcement tools, including take-down notices, formal warnings, enforceable undertakings and penalties of up to NZ$5m for serious or persistent breaches.
“These tools will ensure that New Zealand law applies to all online casino gambling available in New Zealand, regardless of where operators are located, closing off avenues for avoidance and strengthening the regulator’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance by international operators.
“Submissions on this bill made it clear that New Zealanders also want the benefits from the online casino gambling to flow back to local sports clubs, community groups, and grassroots organisations. This bill delivers on that expectation.”
Additional regulations pertaining to aspects such as advertising, harm minimisation and prevention, consumer protection, and cost recovery fees and levies will be established later in the year as the licensing system takes shape.
Van Velden added: “The bill also supports the coalition agreement by closing the gambling tax loophole and requiring licensed online casino operators to pay tax, just like any other business operating in New Zealand.”
Online casino duty for offshore businesses is set to increase to 16% from January 2027 onwards, up from the previous rate of 12%.
While operators will be permitted to advertise to players in the country, they will be hampered by certain restrictions.
These include bans on advertising targeted at individuals under 25, the use of social media influencers, affiliate marketing and jackpot advertising.
Online sports betting will remain under the monopoly from TAB NZ, which is supported by Entain.
This article includes insight from our data partner, EGM. A GGR-focused product launched earlier this year, delivering broader market coverage and data-led insight across the global gambling industry. Click here to find out more about EGM and book a demo by clicking here
The post New Zealand inches closer to online casino regulation first appeared on EGR Intel.
Online Casino Gambling Bill, which would award up to 15 licences to operators, passes its third and final reading in parliament and now heads for Royal Assent
The post New Zealand inches closer to online casino regulation first appeared on EGR Intel.