New Zealand on the Verge of Licensed iGaming in 2026

The South Pacific nation of New Zealand has just taken a huge stride forward in its bid to introduce a regulated online casino market as early as 2026.

Championed by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, New Zealand lawmakers have been pressing hard to introduce an iGaming framework as the country struggles against illicit offshore gambling operators.

Online betting on sports has been legal in the country since 2003, but playing online casinos and poker has never been allowed.

This absence of an iGaming policy has meant New Zealanders have been susceptible to operators that have occasionally blocked customer withdrawals, as well as failed to implement harm prevention measures.

Introducing the internet gaming legislation – which is set to take effect in early 2026 – van Velden stated, “A new Online Gambling Bill will be drafted with the purpose to regulate online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and compliant regulated online gambling market.”

In essence, the New Zealand government plans to issue a limited number of operator licenses to ensure only approved platforms can legally serve Kiwi players, a point van Velden was keen to highlight.

“Currently, New Zealanders can and do gamble on thousands of offshore gambling websites.” van Valden said.

“By introducing a regulatory system, my intention is to channel customers towards up to 15 licensed operators.”

In addition to this, the reform will provide stricter rules that will govern iGaming advertising, particularly if they are deemed to be misleading or relate to targeting minors.

Like Brazil, the new New Zealand statute will also require iGaming operators to implement responsible gambling practices and a failure to comply could result in operators being fined up to NZ$5 million ($2.5 million).

The government’s ambitious timeline is certainly achievable. The legislative framework is due later this month, and the license auction could begin as early as February 2026. If all goes well, licensed operators will be allowed to launch by April 2026, marking a new era for online gambling in New Zealand.

While the emphasis has been placed on player safety, it also makes for smart economics, as a licensed setup will automatically redirect gambling tax revenues from unregulated sites, similar to what has been witnessed in the US iGaming sector.

Addressing the issue of problem gambling, van Velden affirmed, “My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can do today.”

The New Zealand government’s pledge to enforce consumer protections in tandem with taking a slice of the economic benefits should mean van Velden’s iGaming initiative is unlikely to meet with much resistance. If approved, it will undoubtedly reinvent the online gambling landscape in the country.

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 The South Pacific nation of New Zealand has just taken a huge stride forward in its bid to introduce a regulated online casino market as early as 2026. Championed by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, New Zealand lawmakers have been pressing hard to introduce an iGaming framework as the country struggles against illicit offshore
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