New Zealand is taking a significant step toward regulatory clarity in online gambling with the introduction of the Online Casino Gambling Bill in parliament this week.

The bill will open a competitive tender for 15 online casino licenses, allowing successful applicants to operate New Zealand-based online casinos starting in early 2026.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden emphasized that the new framework will focus on harm minimization, consumer protection, and tax collection, and clarified that its purpose is not to encourage more New Zealanders to gamble but to regulate the market effectively.

Offshore Casinos Targeting Kiwis

The move comes amid growing concerns over offshore online casinos targeting New Zealand customers and depriving the government of potential tax revenue. Currently, most gambling and sports betting in the country is state-run.

Major Operators Interested

Several major iGaming operators—including 888, Bet365, TAB, and SkyCity—are reportedly interested in bidding for a license. SkyCity, which already holds four land-based casino licenses, is expected to be a strong contender.

What the Bill Includes

Under the proposed framework, licensed operators will be allowed to offer:

Classic casino games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and baccarat

Online slot machines

However, they will not be allowed to offer sports betting or games too similar to Lotto, Powerball, and Strike to keep the national lottery market distinct.

Compliance and Penalties

All licensed operators will be required to:

Pay a percentage of profits as tax

Submit detailed harm-reduction protocols and business plans

Renew their licenses after three years, with a one-time extension option for five additional years

Unlicensed operators or those failing to comply could face fines of up to NZD $5 million.

Transitional Period

Current online casino operators can continue serving New Zealand customers until December 31, 2025, provided they apply for a license by July 1, 2026.

The bill now heads to the select committee stage, allowing members of the public to share feedback before it proceeds to final approval.

This development follows recent reforms to the 2020 Racing Industry Act, which enhanced TAB NZ’s control over online sports betting in the country.